THE sentencing of a man for separate assaults, five weeks apart last year, has been further delayed at court.

Gareth William Walton was warned to expect a custodial sentence after he admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and assault causing actual bodily harm, at Durham Crown Court, last month.

They relate, respectively, to a crow bar assault on a man as he was getting out of a car in Cornforth Lane, Coxhoe, on September 22, 2020.

It resulted in the injured party suffering a broken arm, while his car was also damaged in the incident.

In the earlier attack, Walton is said to have bitten a man on the chest, in a confrontation on Winston Road, Staindrop, on August 15.

Judge James Adkin adjourned the case to allow for preparation of a background report on the 35-year-old defendant, by the Probation Service.

Bailing Walton, to an address in Albert Street, Shildon, the judge warned him he should expect to receive a prison sentence on his return to court.

The sentencing hearing was initially adjourned to Tuesday this week, but was then moved back, scheduled to take place at the court, yesterday.

But, after a mix-up over the timing of the case, as Walton was told it was an afternoon listing, it has now been put back to 10am, on August 6, with his bail extended until then.

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