A Darlington man who launched a violent attack on his cousin just after an incident outside a town centre pub has been warned to give up the drink.

Kristofer Davies repeatedly punched his victim to the ground and continued the violence when his victim was on the floor, a court heard.

The 35-year-old’s attack was captured on CCTV as he repeatedly punched his victim to the head as they fought in the street.

Peter Sabiston, prosecuting, said the victim required hospital treatment but had discharged himself after a couple of days.

“The footage gives a narrative of what happened,” he said. “I counted around a dozen punches thrown and they were forceful blows.”

Davies, of no fixed abode but formerly of Darlington, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm following the attack on May 12 this year.

Paul Cleasby, mitigating, said the trouble flared following an earlier incident at the Greyhound pub in Darlington which resulted in his client turning up at the door of his cousin.

“The defendant has lost his temper but it was not for no reason at all,” he said. “He went round to remonstrate with his victim and behaved in an inexcusable way and he accepts that. He is remorseful for it.

“Before the incidents on that day, they got on really well and are close cousins who refers to each other as brothers.”

Recorder Aisha Wadoodi sentenced Davies to nine-months in prison suspended for 18 months and ordered him to pay £1,500 in compensation to his victim.

She said: “You felt there had been some issues in relation to your partner at the Greyhound pub and as a result you went round to his address and there was a very violent assault perpetrated on him.

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“You carried on assaulting him and punching him for quite some time, even when he motionless on the floor.”

Davies was also ordered attend 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days, carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and was subjected to a 120-day alcohol abstinence programme.

The judge added: “Make sure you do everything or you will come back to the court to be resentenced and go to prison and it will be a waste.

“Get your job, get everything in order, don’t drink.”