Bad boy brother of Cheryl Cole is spared jail

Former drug addict Andrew Tweedy viciously attacked Lee Clark on August 13 last year.

Civil servant Mr Clark said after the attack: "I thought he'd blinded me."

Mr Clark was walking home from work when Tweedy, the X Factor judge's older brother, pounced on him.

The attack by the the 29-year-old former glue-sniffer, who calls himself the "black sheep" of his family, has left Lee, 30, now scared to go out alone.

Tweedy, previously jailed for six years for a stabbing and four years for mugging a teenager, admitted common assault and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Newcastle Crown Court heard one of Tweedy's pal's had originally challenged Lee to a fight as he walked past their group in the street.

As Lee, a stranger to the group, tried to get away Tweedy joined in.

Prosecutor Gavin Doig told the court: "The defendant followed him and both men blocked his path.

"Tweedy produced from his pocket a silver object, pointed it towards Mr Clark's face and sprayed a noxious substance into his face, causing him to crouch down to the ground."

The court heard Tweedy and his pal walked away, advising Lee to wipe his eye area with leaves.

Lee was left in tremendous pain and managed to stagger to a nearby garage where the emergency services were called and his eyes and face were cleaned by medics.

Tweedy was in court yesterday with his girlfriend who gave birth to their first son on May 3.

His barrister Paul Caulfield told the court Tweedy has an offer of work and is focusing on fatherhood and family life.

Mr Caulfield said Tweedy regrets the embarassment brings on the Girls Aloud superstar and her family.

Mr Caulfield said; "He describes himself as the black sheep of the family.

"Not only does he attract media attenton but his conduct, when it is reported, causes an inordinate amount of embarassment and humuliation for his family, one particular member of the family, and he is very much upset that again he had let them down."

Tweedy claims he had the pepper spray for protection after he was attacked two weeks earlier.

Judge David Hodson said Tweedy's positive probation report and prospects for the future meant the inevitable jail sentence could be suspended.

Judge Hodson sentenced him to 36 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 12 months supervision and 100 hours unpaid work.

Tweedy, who currently lives on benefits, was ordered to pay Lee £250 compensation at a rate of £10 per fortnight.

Judge Hodson said: "Im prepared to accept that although it was unlawful to be in possession of the pepper spray the reason you were carrying it was because of the assault inflicted upon you a short time previously.

"Equally, I accept you have more than your share of attention from the media because of you family associations.

"Equally, It is right to say you had a very unhappy and very unfortunate and very lengthy bad period of upbringing whcih no doubt contributed to your commission of offences.

"One of the major factors which contributed to the commission of these offences was your excessive drinking."

Judge Hodson said the attack warranted a sentence of custody, but he was prepared to suspend it because of the "new major factors" in his life which will have a positive effect.

Judge Hodson said: "This was a completely unprovoked attack on Mr Clark, perfectly innocent gentleman going about his business.

"There is absolutely no reason whey he should have sustained the attack with the pepper spray that he did."

Lee, of North Shields, said: "At the time, I thought I was blinded.

"I can't understand why he did it. I didn't provoke him in any way, but he just started on me."

Tweedy, who has more than 80 convictions, recently vowed to end his criminal ways for the sake of Cheryl, 25, married to England football ace Ashley Cole.

But in August last year he targeted Lee as he left work at the Balliol Business Park, Benton, Newcastle, and headed to his parents home in Gosforth.

Lee told how he came under fire as he walked along Heathery Lane, next to Gosforth Golf Course.

He said: "I heard shouting and screaming and at first I thought it was kids on the golf course.

"But as I got further down the path, I could see two or three males and a girl coming round the corner and one of them wolf-whistled at me.

"I never said anything and they started hurling abuse at me."

Lee told how Tweedy struck. He said: "Just out of nowhere, he sprayed me in the face.

"I fell straight away because, as soon as it hit my eyes, it was a burning sensation.

"One of the lads walked away and Tweedy was about to punch me, but he was stopped at the last minute by his friend.

"All they said to me was 'walk the other way and rub your face with leaves'.

"It hurt, it was stinging my eyes badly and there was a burning sensation all the way down the side of my face.

"My eyes wanted to close and it was raining, so that was making it worse because more of the substance was flowing into my eyes.

"I managed to get to a nearby garage and when I got there, someone rang the police.

"When the paramedics arrived, they had to wash my eyes out several times, but they were still stinging."

It is the latest in a line of convictions for Tweedy, who grew up with Cheryl and siblings Joe, 32, Gillian, 29, and Gary, 21, in Heaton, Newcastle.

But while she has risen to stardom, he has racked up convictions for offences, including assault, robbery and vehicle interference, with his earliest at 13.

In 2005 he was jailed with accomplice Syd Rook after they beat-up and robbed Kian Brady. He missed Cheryl and Ashley's wedding while inside.

In 1996, Tweedy was given a six-year stretch for stabbing two students.

His sister told of her agony at seeing him addicted to solvents.

Latest victim Lee had a severe rash on his face for days and says the attack left him afraid to leave the house.

He said: "I used to go out with friends and enjoy myself, but I felt a sense of not being able to do that after the attack.

"I thought my eye would be permanently damaged and thought that would cause problems with my job.

"I used to like to go out with my girlfriend, but we don't bother now."

Speaking of his shame at letting his sister down, Tweedy, of Langhorn Close, Heaton, Newcastle, said: "Cheryl wants to help me but I'm too far gone. I know I'm breaking her heart, but I'm not strong enough to sort myself out.

"It tears me up to think I'm causing my sister so much pain.

"I've told Cheryl she should be ashamed, but she says she'll never give up on me."