A MAN has admitted a five-month campaign of harassment against a professional boxer and doorman.

Graham Michael Boyle, 31, his brother, David Anthony Boyle, 30, and Norman Vincent Harrison, 23, appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday facing several charges.

Graham Boyle, of Eldon Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to causing criminal harassment against Francis Jones between July and August last year, and affray on December 12, last year.

David Boyle, of Lansdowne Street, Darlington, admitted affray as well as possession of an offensive weapon.

Harrison, of Arnold Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to affray.

The harassment included:

* Making 80 phone calls and sending 70 text messages to Mr Jones between July 1 and December 24, which threatened violence against him and his girlfriend;

* Daubing offensive graffiti against Mr Jones on prominent buildings and bridges around Darlington;

* Throwing a milk bottle at Mr Jones while he was driving;

* Graffiti and an arson attack on Mr Jones' father's Ford Focus car;

* And criminal damage to the house of a bouncer who works for Mr Jones.

The affray happened on December 22, last year, outside Indaba, in Gladstone Street, where Mr Jones was working.

David Boyle admitted possession of a knuckle duster on that day.

All three men had previously been charged with threatening to kill Mr Jones.

The brothers, who were arrested in March, were given conditional bail. They will be sentenced on October 12.

Harrison was remanded in custody until a later date.

Mr Jones, 26, works as a self-employed doorman at several pubs and clubs in Darlington.

His next fight will take place tomorrow against Scottish boxer Kevin Anderson in Kirkaldy, Scotland, for the British Welterweight title.