A young immature drinker used beer glasses to attack two people after "losing control" following a row at a workingmen’s club.

Alan James Hunt, also known as Smith, flung one glass over his shoulder, striking a man in the face and shoved the other into the face of a second victim innocently entering the Excelsior Club, in South Moor, Stanley.

Durham Crown Court heard that a remark by Hunt, which was considered racist by a man of German heritage, sparked the argument preceding the attacks, on the evening of August 13.

John Crawford, prosecuting, said Hunt, who was with his father, was involved in the row, which led to “pushing and shoving”, and the defendant was asked to leave the premises.

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He ran back through the rear of the club and grabbed two pint glasses, one of which was flung back towards other people near to the exit, striking a man in the face, leaving him unsteady on his feet.

Mr Crawford said Hunt continued to confront others and immediately outside the exit attacked the second man who was returning to the club with some food.

The victim, who had hesitated on seeing the dispute, waited for what he believed to be a safe moment to enter the premises.

But as he did so, Hunt grabbed him from behind and struck him in the face while still holding the second glass.

Mr Crawford said the victim suffered a swelling to the left-hand side of the chin, soreness to his mouth and scarring to the forehead, and is unsure if it will fully heal.

He was also off work for a week, losing £380 as a result, and is said to be frustrated that he could not enjoy a night out at the club without being assaulted, “for no reason”.

The 21-year-old defendant, of Lime Street, Stanley, admitted charges of wounding with intent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, when he appeared via video link from HMP Durham at a plea hearing at the court, last week.

Mr Crawford told the sentencing hearing that the offences put Hunt in breach of a suspended sentence order for an offence of affray, for which he was ordered to perform 100 hours’ unpaid work and attend a probation-run ‘thinking skills’ programme.

While he has completed the unpaid work, Mr Crawford said Hunt has not even begun the probation programme.

Read more: Six people jailed in cases at Durham Crown Court this week

Tony Davis, in mitigation for Hunt, said: “Thankfully, he made the sensible decision to plead guilty having seen cctv.

“Perhaps, he’s a young man who has not reached full maturity and learned to deal with problems appropriately.

“Fortunately, the injuries in neither case was particularly serious, despite the scarring of the victim of the section 18 (wounding with intent).

“He’s clearly a young man who has not had sufficient guidance how to behave.

“He was drinking with others much older than him.

“He has remorse for this behaviour and, in terms of the facts, he does seem to have some significant issues with managing temper control.”

Mr Davis added that the defendant has, “very little if any recollection” of what took place that evening and may have initially thought he was the victim of a public order incident.

Judge James Adkin told Hunt: “On August 13 at the Excelsior Club it appears you had a lot to drink, that night.

“You started trouble using racist language in front of a man with German heritage.

“You completely lost your control because of the drink taken, throwing one glass and grabbing the other man from behind and smashing him on the head, causing a large wound to the forehead.”

Judge Adkin imposed a 54-month prison sentence for the club incident but added 15 months from the suspended sentence to make a total sentence of five years and nine months.

He also recommended that Hunt’s licence conditions on his release from custody should include a prohibition from attending the Excelsior Club.

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               Ferryhill man convicted of harassment of now ex-partner

               Terrified victim feared she would die at hands County Durham partner

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