A friend’s ‘leaving do’ turned sour for one drinker when he poured a pint over a pool table after becoming involved in an argument.

Mark Burr was out celebrating with his friend before he moved to Spain when the trouble brewed in the Turks Head in Darlington town centre last month.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard how the 43-year-old was assaulted outside the pub when he left the premises after damaging the pool table.

Burr, of Geneva Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage on April 18.

The Northern Echo: The Turks Head, DarlingtonThe Turks Head, Darlington (Image: Google)

Stephen Hamill, mitigating, said: “One of the members of staff was being off with him and he was just joking and pretended to pour the pint on the table before doing just that.

“After leaving the pub he was attacked and suffered a lesion above his eye and fracture to his face – so he has had some punishment for his behaviour.

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“He would accept that he is not getting any younger and he knows he shouldn’t be behaving like that at his age.”

District Judge Steven Hood said: “You went back into the pub for one more drink, it seems like one drink too many, if that is the way that you are going to behave.”

Burr was fined £200 and ordered to pay £300 in compensation to the pub manager.

The judge added: “You are getting yourself back into employment, maybe it is time to put your efforts into that and not drinking.”