A MAN pursued a car driver for more than 20 minutes before jumping from his van and attacking him with a crow bar, when the vehicles came to a halt at temporary lights.

Gareth Walton struck his victim with such ferocity as he got out of his car that he fractured his arm.

Durham Crown Court was told that Walton was shouting that his victim had, “ruined his life”.

Walton believed the other man had been having an affair with his ex-partner - but in fact they were just work colleagues and had known each other for three years. At the time of the attack Walton had been separated from the woman for some time.

During the incident, which took place in view of parents waiting to collect children from a primary school in Coxhoe, Walton also struck his victim on the top of his head with the bar.

Joe Hedworth, prosecuting, said when Walton finally desisted, getting back into his van and driving away, the injured man was taken to hospital for treatment for a 5cm cut to the scalp and surgery in which a metal plate was inserted in his arm.

He was in a cast for six weeks, suffering ongoing ligament damage, while the top right side of his head remains scarred.

Mr Hedworth said when arrested later that day, September 22, 2020, Walton claimed he did not intend to cause serious harm.

He was also questioned about a further assault, five weeks earlier, in which he confronted a man on his doorstep in Staindrop, at 8.30pm on a Saturday evening.

Mr Hedworth said with the victim’s shocked partner and child looking on, Walton grabbed him and pulled him outside, punching and biting him on the right side of the torso, beneath the arm pit.

He suffered a small cut under his left eye, severe swelling to the right cheek and the bite mark.

Walton claimed he was not the aggressor and said he had gone to the home of the victim, a former employer, claiming he was owed money for joinery work.

The work standard was criticised, which Walton disputed.

Having previously denied the offences, the 35-year-old defendant, of Albert Street, Shildon, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and assault causing actual bodily harm a week before his scheduled trial.

He also admitted affray, possessing an offensive weapon and criminal damage.

Andrew Finlay, for Walton, presented a large number of references to the court on his behalf and said he had a “very limited” criminal record having not previously behaved in such a way.

Mr Finlay said he was known as, “a hard-working family man”, a community volunteer and coach to young cricketers.

He said the offences were “out of character”, committed at a time he was “in despair” over the break-up of his relationship.

Mr Finlay added that Walton has since sought counselling.

Imposing a total 51-month prison sentence Judge James Adkin also put in place a ten-year restraining order, forbidding him from contacting the victim of the principal offence.

He recommended his licence conditions, on release, should also prohibit contact with the victim of the earlier attack.

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