A MAN was warned he faces a prison sentence following an attack on a neighbour after a simmering row boiled over.

Nicholas Anthony Mead landed at least three blows to the face of his victim in a confrontation at a car park near their homes in Hartford Place, Peterlee, east Durham.

Mead, 42, admitted a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm when he appeared at Durham Crown Court.

His victim suffered a depressed fracture of a cheek bone in the incident on June 7 last year.

But the court was told that his guilty plea was on the basis that he did not kick the neighbour, as was previously alleged.

Jane Waugh, for Mead, said: "It was always made plain we didn't accept any kicking."

Judge Beatrice Bolton adjourned sentence pending preparation of reports on Mead by the probation service. She warned him that a prison sentence was likely.

Mead, now of East Dene Way, Peterlee, was bailed to return for sentence during the week of June 6