A respected prison officer who fractured a teenager's cheekbone after he threw a stone through his car window was spared jail yesterday.

Edward Smith, 47, had tried to apprehend the 15-year-old until the police arrived but suffered an injury to his face when the youth lashed out.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Smith responded by punching the youngster three or four times in the face which resulted in an undisplaced fracture of his cheekbone and a broken nose.

Prosecutor Tim Gittens told the court how Smith had been on a fishing trip with his stepson at Boldon pond on August 28 last year when the teen, who had been drinking wine, smashed the back window of his car parked nearby.

The officer, who works at Low Newton, Durham, said he was "sorry" when he heard the extent of the injuries he had caused.

The teenager, who is known to the police and already had a record, admitted criminal damage in relation to the broken car window and was conditionally discharged.

He has since been arrested and bailed for an offence of having an offensive weapon.

Defence barrister John Wilkinson handed "glowing" references into the court from Smith's past and present employers and two members of the public who sit as lay justices.

He said: "What started out as a pleasurable afternoon's fishing for the defendant and his stepson has turned, as far as he is concerned, into an absolute nightmare."

Smith, of Fatfield, Washington, was initially charged with causing grievous bodily harm but it was dropped after he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm during an earlier hearing. His plea was on the basis the attack was self defence gone too far.

Smith has been on restricted duties at work since his arrest and is unsure if he will be allowed to keep his job following the conviction.

Mr Wilkinson said some may feel the teenager had been "the author of his own misfortune".

Judge David Wood said Smith's behaviour had started out as "commendable" but added: "It is very regrettable you should have thrown away your good character by effectively losing your temper on this particular day."

Judge Wood conditionally discharged Smith for two years and ordered him to pay £750 costs.