A man who was facing trial accused of making knife threats and assaulting his father in his own home is now to be sentenced having admitted a new charge of affray arising from the incident.

Reece Niles previously denied charges of threatening his father with a knife, making threats to kill him and assaulting him by beating.

He also denied a charge of damaging property, a coffee table, belonging to his father.

All the alleged offences were said to have taken place at his father’s address in Easington Colliery, on Monday, October 2, last year.

The 25-year-old defendant, of Guthrum Place, Newton Aycliffe, has remained in custody since his arrest and made those not guilty pleas at a hearing at Durham Crown Court, on October 31, via video link from the city’s nearby prison.

The Northern Echo:

A trial estimated to be of two-days’ duration was fixed to be heard at the court last week.

But the case came into the list as a “mention”, last Thursday (March 28), when a new charge of affray was put to the defendant.

The Northern Echo:

He admitted it and that plea was considered acceptable to the Crown.

See more court stories from The Northern Echo, by clicking here

Newton Aycliffe man to stand trial over threats to father in New Year

Newton Aycliffe news from The Northern Echo

Man in court after Newton Aycliffe Esso garage stand-off

Get the latest news, sports, and entertainment delivered straight to your device by subscribing to The Northern Echo, by clicking here. 

Recorder Tom Moran adjourned passing sentence as he said an updated impact statement should be prepared for the court from the victim.

The defendant was to have been sentenced on Wednesday this week (April 3), but the hearing has now been moved back to Friday next week (April 12).

Niles remains remanded in custody until that sentencing hearing.