A man has admitted causing grievous bodily harm to his victim in an assault, but he denies having had the intent to inflict that level of injuries.

Adam Emmerson has appeared at Durham Crown Court twice this month via video link from the city’s nearby prison, accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

He is alleged to have delivered several punches to the injured man, as well as kicking him to the head, in the incident on Friday November 15, last year.

The victim suffered a bloodied nose and a swelling to the head.

The Northern Echo:

At a hearing at the court on January 2, prosecutor Paul Abrahams said further medical evidence was awaited as it was unclear if the victim suffered facial fractures from photographs provided in the aftermath of the attack.

Judge James Adkin agreed for an adjournment to obtain further medical evidence.

The Northern Echo:

When the case came back before the court the hearing was told the required medical evidence has now been supplied allowing the charges to be put to Emmerson.

The 36-year-old defendant, of James Street, Bishop Auckland, pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent (section 18), but he admitted the slightly lesser charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm (section 20), (without intent).

He also denied assaulting a woman by beating, arising from the same incident.

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Mr Abrahams said the Crown lawyers reviewing the evidence consider it was a section 18 offence, but he added that they would be, “guided by the views of the complainant”, which may lead to the case being resolved.

The hearing was adjourned until January 31 to see if the prosecution would accept the guilty plea to a section 20 offence, rather than proceed to trial on the section 18 allegation.

But, as a precaution, a timetable was set should a trial be required, with it fixed for a hearing starting at the court on May 15, ahead of the deadline to detain the defendant in custody, of May 31.