A PUB DJ lashed out when a man walked into the premises with his estranged wife, a court heard.

Mark Christopher Brown made straight for the man, who was arranging stools at a table, striking him in the head and face with a glass ash tray.

Durham Crown Court heard that in the following fracas, blows were exchanged on both sides, before other customers at the Market Tavern, in Chester-le-Street, pulled them apart.

Jane Mitford, prosecuting, said the victim suffered a deep cut to his left cheek bone, a wound to the bridge of his nose, a broken bone in one hand and an injury to an index finger.

The victim told police that he felt he never stood in the way of Brown visiting his now ex-wife and son.

Brown, 36, told police that he was sober at the time, but became angry at seeing the man with his estranged wife.

Miss Mitford said Brown claimed the man "smirked" at him on entering the premises, which made him, "see red".

He told police that he grabbed an ash tray, but everything after that was "like a black-out".

Roger Moore, mitigating, said: "He has expressed remorse and regret over the incident.

"It was a build-up of feelings and anger over a couple of months and it got right under his skin."

Mr Moore said Brown has suffered depression, for which he was seeking treatment, while he had also attended an anger management course since the incident, on March 1.

He added that the divorce went through several months ago and Brown now plans to move to Cumbria with his new girlfriend.

Brown, of Wynyard, Chester-le-Street, admitted wounding.

Judge Guy Whitburn said: "I accept there was some degree of provocation.

"The very fact he's in the same room with someone who's with his ex-wife may cause the red mist to come down, but, frankly, people have to learn to control themselves."

He imposed a one-year prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, during which Brown must undergo probation supervision.