A FATHER who tried to take his daughter home after catching her drinking in the street was rounded on by a gang, a court heard yesterday.

Youths surrounded James Morrison and knocked him to the ground after he ordered his 15-year-old daughter to get into his car.

One of his attackers, Philip Watson, 20, of Hunstanworth Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Morrison, at South Durham Magistrates' Court.

James Thomas, prosecuting, said Mr Morrison had seen his daughter holding a bottle of alcohol outside a convenience store in Nickstream Lane, Darlington, on April 4. He told her to go home but she ran off.

"He's got in his car and followed her," said Mr Thomas.

"He's managed to catch up with her. He's taken hold of her by the wrist and she's struggled. He physically got hold of his daughter and dragged her away."

He said Mr Morrison drove off after his daughter promised to go home.

When she did not, he went out again to look for her but was set upon by the youths.

"He turned round to see a male youth walking towards him. The male said to him 'you have been picking on young girls'."

Mr Morrison pushed the youth away but was punched by several of the gang.

Mr Thomas said: "He fell over at one point. He said he was held down when he was on the floor and he started receiving kicks to his right arm."

Mr Morrison eventually broke free and ran home, where he realised he had a nose bleed and cut ear.

"He was extremely shaken and distressed," said Mr Thomas.

Graham Hunsley, mitigating, said Watson had been drinking at the time of the attack and had a poor recollection of events. "What appears to have happened is that people jumped to the wrong conclusion," he said.

Watson also admitted being drunk in charge of a pedal bike, using threatening behaviour and resisting two police officers on August 8.

He was ordered to pay £100 compensation to Mr Morrison and fined £125 for the other offences, plus £55 costs.