AN allotment holder suffered a fractured arm while beating away a burglar who had broken into his shed, a court has heard.

David Gary Ryan broke into the shed at Schoolfield Allotments in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, to find a drink, magistrates in the town were told.

Prosecutor Rachael Dodsworth said the allotment owner has a complex security system which alerts him if someone has entered one of his buildings.

At 4am on September 4 he was woken by his phone telling him that movement had been sensed in the shed.

The 48-year-old man, who lives nearby, rushed to the scene and saw torchlight in the shed, the court heard.

Ms Dodsworth said the man picked up a sweeping brush and struck Ryan, 41, of Skipton Close in Newton Aycliffe, over the head with it when the burglar came running out.

A second man with Ryan threw packets of biscuits at the man and attacked him with an unknown item fracturing his arm, the court heard.

Ms Dodsworth said the victim felt that he was “fighting for his life” and that the fight lasted about 15 seconds before the two burglars climbed a fence and escaped.

Ryan, who claims to have suffered concussion and was hospitalised for two days after the incident, told police he had been looking for a hose pipe to drink from, but when he could not find one he entered the shed.

The court heard that it was Ryan’s accomplice who fractured the victim’s arm and that Ryan has written a letter of apology to the allotment holder.

Ryan, who admitted burglary, will be sentenced at Durham Crown Court on November 1 and was given bail on the condition that he resides at Skipton Close and abides by a curfew between 10pm and 7am.