A MAN who carried out a savage attack on a friend of 15 years was yesterday warned to expect a jail sentence.

Michael James Davies struck the 21-year-old victim repeatedly with a club or stick, before biting his arm.

Durham Crown Court heard that he maintained his grip on the man's forearm for some time, before plunging his teeth into his thumb, causing him "excruciating pain".

The court was told the victim screamed in agony as he tried to release Davies' teeth, alerting passing shoppers using a nearby Co-op convenience store in Wheatley Hill.

A woman, who was with her daughter, witnessed the attack as she left the store.

She called police on her mobile phone, describing the incident as it took place. Davies jumped onto the bonnet of the Fiat Punto, in which the victim had been sitting before the attack, and tried to kick out the windscreen.

Peter Schofield, prosecuting, said that the incident took place during the early evening in March, when the victim's girlfriend pulled up in the Punto outside the store.

Davies, 27, a steel erector, of Wordsworth Avenue, Wheatley Hill, denied wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and criminal damage.

He was cleared of wounding with intent, but was found guilty of unlawful wounding, as well as criminal damage.

The judge, Mr Justice Andrew Smith, bailed Davies but warned him: "The verdict means the likely sentence is prison." Davies will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on November 12.