A MAN who attacked his friend and then raided his house as he recovered in the street has been jailed for a year.

Matthew Hamilton, 20, was jailed by Judge George Moorhouse for nine months for burglary and three months for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Hamilton had attacked his 41-year-old friend Robert Lord as the pair walked through Darlington town centre looking for another friend.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Mr Lord was left semi-conscious by the attack, in September 2004, which happened out of the blue after Hamilton began acting "bizarrely".

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said Hamilton had called at Mr Lord's home looking for a mutual friend. Mr Lord offered to help him find the other person.

But as they walked through Post House Wynd, Hamilton began questioning where they were going, then pulled a noxious substance from his pocket and sprayed Mr Lord in the face.

He then punched him in the face repeatedly until he fell to the ground, and followed up his attack with kicks and knees to the body as passers-by looked on.

One witness described the attack as "a vicious, violent assault with full force" and at one point heard Hamilton scream at his friend: "I'm going to f***ing kill you."

Mr Newcombe said Mr Lord eventually came to his senses and when he returned to his home in Napier Street, Darlington, he found the living room window broken and belongings missing.

Among the items stolen were a computer and games, as well as a gold bracelet and chain.

Hamilton's fingerprints were later found around a window by police.

When Hamilton was interviewed he accepted hitting his friend, but said it was only three punches, and claimed the fingerprints had been left at the house during a previous visit.

Hamilton, of Greenbank Road, Darlington, had previous convictions for offences such as assault, criminal damage, being drunk and disorderly and resisting arrest.

Dan Cordey, in mitigation, said Hamilton had taken a cocktail of alcohol and drugs before the attack, and said the burglary was intended to claw back a debt he claimed he was owed.

Hamilton admitted both offences.