VIOLENCE broke out at a Christmas party as a row over two Territorial Army regiments got out of hand, a court heard.

The festive gathering turned sour when Timothy Potts struck his partner's brother, Mark Pearson, after both had been drinking.

Durham Crown Court heard that the row began as banter between Potts, a former TA engineer, and Mr Pearson, a TA Paratrooper.

Stephen Duffield, prosecuting, said Mr Pearson had flown from Essex with his wife, Nicola, to attend the party, at his parents' home in Ouston, near Chester-le-Street, on December 20.

He said: "It appears to have been a pleasant event until the argument took place between him and Timothy Potts later in the evening."

The argument became heated and they were seen pushing each other in the kitchen.

Mr Duffield said: "Mark Pearson speaks of feeling a sudden blow to the back of his head and then a second followed. That is all he can remember.

"Visitors who saw some of the incident spoke of punching by Potts on Mr Pearson, who went to the ground.

"After that they were separated and Potts was put out, but returned to collect his coat, which he had left on a bed upstairs."

Mr Duffield said Mr Pearson was assaulted again and in the following fight, several people fell to the ground.

When Potts was arrested and interviewed, he said he had been verbally abused and there had been some pulling and pushing.

He said he was then punched by Mark Pearson.

Mr Duffield said: "He was unable, however, to explain the extent of Mr Pearson's injuries and thought they may have been caused by him hitting his head on the tiled hall floor."

Mr Pearson suffered extensive bruising, a chipped tooth and needed stitches to his upper lip.

Euan Duff, in mitigation, said the rival TA banter became nasty and Potts, who had a previous clean record, snapped at a time when he was off work with stress.

The 36-year-old project manager with a supermarket fitting company, of Greenfields, Ouston, admitted inflicting grevious bodily harm.

He was fined £250, ordered to pay £740 prosecution costs and £500 compensation to Mr Pearson.