A MAN struggling to come to terms with his sister's death following a drug overdose launched a violent attack on the person he believed was responsible.

Gary Brown turned up at the victim's house demanding answers about what happened to his sister before throwing a coffee table and a hammer at him.

He then proceeded to punch and kick the man to the head and body.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 30-year-old picked up a plank of wood off the ground and continued to hit the defenceless man as he lay on the floor.

Brown's devastation at his loss exploded into violence when he confronted the victim, who has since died, on August 26 in 2019.

The victim suffered cuts and bruises to his head and face as a result of the assault.

In a victim statement, taken before he passed away, he said he struggled to sleep following the attack and feared that Brown would return and assault him again.

Brown, of St Cuthbert's Walk, Liverton Mines, near Saltburn, pleaded guilty to a charge of affray following the attack almost two years ago.

Ben Pegman, in mitigation, said his client accepts full responsibility for his behaviour on the day.

He told the court that Brown's sister had died less than two weeks before he turned up at the victim's home and let his emotions get the better of him.

"I think he feels that at that point he had legitimate questions to ask 'why, how and what help was sought' but he would accept, with the benefit of hindsight, that it was always fraught with difficulties and there was always potential due to the rawness of emotions attached to that, that matter would overspill," he said.

"He accepts that the victim had no involvement in his sister's demise and it isn't a typical type of affray that frequently come before the court in the terms of that background."

Judge Recorder Michael Fanning sentenced Brown to 14 months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

"I'm told your sister died at the victim's home, as a result of that you were upset and you wanted to see him and ask questions but it went beyond that," he said.

"You subjected him to a beating with your feet and fists, and you resorted to using a piece of wood, causing the injuries."