A ROW over a discarded chocolate bar wrapper resulted in a man receiving a prison sentence.

Stephen Jackson threw the king-size Twix wrapper from his Ford Sierra car window as he pulled up outside his girlfriend's house, in Hillside, Chester-le-Street, last July.

He was seen by an elderly neighbour, who was in his car nearby waiting to take his wife and grandchildren on an outing.

Durham Crown Court heard that the 71-year-old man approached Jackson asking him to pick up the wrapper.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said Jackson took exception to his comments and a row developed, culminating in him striking the pensioner on the side of the head.

His glasses were knocked off and he lost his balance, falling to the ground, where Jackson pushed his head against the concrete.

The victim struggled and tried to grab Jackson round the neck, while a woman living nearby intervened in an attempt to end the violence.

Mr Towers said the pensioner suffered a broken finger, a detached arm muscle injury and grazes to his neck and cheek.

When arrested, 35-year-old Jackson, of Blair Close, Fencehouses, near Chester-le-Street, claimed he acted in self-defence.

He eventually admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, and was ordered to perform 200 hours of unpaid community work when sentenced, in February.

But he was brought back to the court yesterday for breaching the order.

Mr Towers said Jackson had carried out only 14-and-a-half hours of the order, and had twice breached it, initially receiving an extra five hours' work as punishment.

Rachel Hedworth, for Jackson, apologised to the court on his behalf. She said the first breach was caused by a hand injury, while he has since struggled to meet weekend appointments through child care difficulties.

Miss Hedworth urged Judge Richard Lowden to give him another chance to carry out the order.

But Judge Lowden told Jackson: "If you're not prepared to do the work, the order is not going to work."

He replaced the community punishment order with a five-month prison sentence.