A man was left unconscious on the ground with severe head injuries after being punched and kicked, a court heard.

Leon Raine suffered facial fractures and has still not fully recovered from the attack, which took place six months ago, said Rob Galley, prosecuting, yesterday.

Martin Bond, 25, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Raine outside the Central Park pub, in Darlington.

Bond's friend, Peter Dent, 21, pleaded guilty to bodily harm assault on Nikitas Maikos in the incident on August 12.

Judge Guy Whitburn, QC, told them: "You put the boot in and behaved very badly."

Bond, of Wilson Street, Darlington, was jailed for 12 months, and Dent, of West Auckland Road, Darlington, for nine months.

Teesside Crown Court heard they had been drinking heavily and an argument in the pub turned to aggression outside.