A MAN beat his drinking partner with a chair leg in public after being accused of stealing his CD player.

Violence flared between Stephen Wilson and his 37-year-old victim after they had taken part in an open-air drinking session, drinking a bottle of vodka in the centre of Stanley, County Durham, one afternoon last August.

Durham Crown Court was told that the 37-year-old fell asleep, and on waking, claimed his CD player and ear phones were missing, blaming Wilson.

Mark Giuliani, prosecuting, said he told him he wanted them replaced, but on seeing them on a wall nearby, he punched Wilson.

Mr Giuliani said Wilson then disappeared, but returned, armed with a chair leg, striking his accuser with it on the arm.

He was accused of following up with a blow to the head, causing the other man to fall to the ground, where Wilson was said to have kicked him and hit him again with the chair leg.

Mr Giuliani said members of the public, including a 14-year-old boy, saw the flare-up.

Police were called, and, when arrested, Wilson claimed the other man produced the bat, but he disarmed him and struck him with it once.

Mr Giuliani said Wilson was arrested in Stanley town centre three days earlier, while carrying a similar implement, which an expert believed came from the same piece of furniture.

The victim had suffered facial swellings and other head injuries, and a tooth had been loosened by the blows.

Wilson, 34, of West Street, Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street, denied wounding with intent, unlawful wounding, plus two charges of possessing an offensive weapon.

He was convicted of unlawful wounding and one of the offensive weapon charges, but was cleared on the other allegations, on unanimous jury verdicts.

Judge Tim Hewitt adjourned sentence to allow for preparation of reports by the probation service on Wilson, specifically looking at his alcohol problems. Wilson was remanded in custody to be sentenced by Judge Hewitt, at Newcastle Crown Court, on March 31.

The court heard he was recently jailed by North Durham magistrates for two months, for theft, and is due to be released on March 29.