A MAN has appeared at court after punching his mother during an argument.

Gareth David Charlton, 38, faced magistrates sitting at Newton Aycliffe this week following the incident at his mother's home in Seaham last July.

Ansab Shan, prosecuting, said: "The defendant's mother was upstairs in her property whilst the defendant was downstairs and an argument took place between them.

"The defendant went upstairs and punched his mother to the arm and as a result, the defendant's uncle came upstairs.

"He was pushed over by the defendant who went on to hit him in the head several times whilst he was on the floor.

"His mother tried to called the police and the defendant grabbed her phone off her and smashed it.

"He has 33 previous convictions including offences against the person, he was last before the court in December 2014 when he was jailed, however he has stayed out of trouble since."

In a statement read out during the hearing Charlton's mother said: "The incident was completely unjustified and I did not even have a chance to defend myself.

"I am very scared for my own safety as a result of this."

Charlton, of Ryton Crescent, Seaham, pleaded guilty to one charge of common assault, assaulting a person occasioning them actual bodily harm and criminal damage at an earlier hearing.

Bill Davison, mitigating, said: "He lives with his grandmother and they were arguing about his grandmother's care.

"It is correct that a fight did break out and blows were exchanged between them.

"It is not a case where his uncle has been assaulted and not hit back."

Charlton was given a community order for 18 months and he must pay £95 victim surcharge.