A TEENAGER punched another man in the face after seeing him in Darlington with his younger sister, a court heard yesterday.

Lee Graham Poole, 19, had drunk about ten pints when he thought he saw David Matthews touching his sister, South Durham Magistrates' Court was told.

The Darlington bench heard that Poole, of Neasham Road, Darlington, got the wrong idea and punched the student in the face leaving him needing stitches to a cut on his chin.

Derek Walton, prosecuting, said Mr Matthews was walking along Commercial Street with Poole's sister and two others when the defendant assaulted him.

"Poole saw Mr Matthews bending down and thought he was touching his sister and that caused him to punch him in the face," said Mr Walton.

Trevor Jones, in mitigation, said his client was over-protective of his younger sister and had got the wrong end of the stick.

Poole, who works as a carpet fitter, pleaded guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He was ordered to pay £250 compensation and fined £100, plus £100 costs.