A MAN accused of kicking an unconscious victim's head following a fight outside a pub was warned a prison sentence is likely to follow.

Twenty-one-year-old David Holmes yesterday admitted assaulting the man, causing him actual bodily harm, in a short hearing at Durham Crown Court.

The court heard that it stemmed from a violent flare-up outside Yates's, in North Road, Durham, on August 13.

Aisha Wadoodi, for Holmes, told the court he pleaded guilty on the basis that the other man came out of the pub and started the fight with him.

But Judge Guy Whitburn QC told her: "He was drunk out of his mind and he kicked an unconscious man on the ground. I think the CCTV video should be shown on the day of sentence.

"There is a great concern about the number of times we have cases of people being kicked in the head coming before the courts.

"Thirty years ago, there was no question about it - if you kicked someone lying on the ground in the head, it was straight inside."

Requesting a report on Holmes by the probation service, prior to sentence, Miss Wadoodi told the judge: "He's aware of his position."

Agreeing to the request, Judge Whitburn told Holmes: "You ought to be warned that all options are open and custody may be inevitable.

"Any man who kicks another in the head while he's on the ground commits a very serious offence."

He bailed Holmes, of Bannerman Terrace, Ushaw Moor, near Durham, to return for sentence on January 23.