A MAN who carried out a drunken assault on a lodger at his home was yesterday jailed for three years.

John Cooke, 36, used a pointed wooden stick, a claw hammer and a plank of wood in the ten-minute attack.

Durham Crown Court heard that Cooke saw red after being told that the lodger had ill-treated his girlfriend, who was also staying at his home at the time, in December.

David Scutt, prosecuting, said Cooke went to his house in Bullion Lane, Chester-le-Street, after drinking heavily.

Mr Scutt said the victim, a 40-year-old man, tried to run away but fell, and Cooke struck him in the leg with the hammer, causing a compound fracture.

A neighbour intervened and disarmed Cooke, who went back to his home and returned to continue the attack with a plank of wood.

The victim was detained in hospital overnight, and required an operation on the broken leg.

The court heard he was also heavily bruised, with a laceration to his arm and a stab wound to the left hip area.

Eric Elliott, for Cooke, said he had known the victim for some time and took pity on him as he was living rough at the time with his girlfriend.

He allowed them to live at his home, but became concerned about allegations that the lodger had assaulted his girlfriend.

The court heard the victim denied assaulting her.

Jailing Cooke, who admitted wounding with intent, Judge Lowden said: "This was a repeated, protracted and determined attack.

"There was some background to it, but it was no excuse for your behaviour."