A TEENAGER is waiting to be sentenced by magistrates after pleading guilty to striking a friend with a baseball bat.

Philip Andrew Smart, of Minors Crescent, admitted to charges of assault and possession of an offensive weapon at Darlington Magistrates Court today.

The court heard that the unemployed 19-year-old lashed out at a group of friends he had fallen out with, and hit a girl on the arm.

David Maddison, prosecuting, said the incident happened late on the night of August 20, when two men and a woman drove to the car park at Broken Scar, off Coniscliffe Road.

"Three friends went to Broken Scar that night, and the defendant arrived later in another vehicle," he said.

"There is some bad feeling between the defendant and one of the men. One went over to the defendant's car to try to resolve the matter, but the defendant picked up a baseball bat from the back seat.

"There was a struggle as they tried to take the weapon from him and the girl was struck on the arm two times."

Police arrived shortly afterwards, and Smart admitted to striking the girl.

Representing himself in court today, he was asked if he agreed with the prosecutions account of events, to which he replied: "Yeah, near enough."

The case was adjourned for pre sentence reports.