THE wife of a man left brain damaged after he was felled by a single punch left court in tears yesterday after recalling their last night out together.

Carole McMillan was giving evidence at Newcastle Crown Court in the trial of John Beresford, 43, a Durham Police detective based in Consett, who is charged with the stag night attack which left Graeme McMillan in a coma.

Mrs McMillan said that she and her husband were enjoying a "typical night out" in Newcastle with another couple when the alleged attack took place last June.

She said that as they made their way towards a taxi rank, they heard a man in a group say he would like to have sex with her.

When Mr McMillan told the group they should show some respect, he was punched to the ground.

Mrs McMillan, 40, a special education supply teacher, said: "Almost immediately after the comment I heard a girl scream, I turned around and saw Graeme on the pavement lying on his back with his hands down by his side.

"He was unconscious and I saw blood coming from his left ear."

"I did not know where our friends had gone. I looked up to see if someone could help. But all I could see were these shocked faces, so I just turned my attention back to Graeme."

Mrs McMillan stayed at her husband's side and went with him to Newcastle General Hospital where he was taken to the high-dependency unit.

His condition deteriorated so badly that part of his brain had to be removed, and the father-of-three, from Newcastle, has been left with permanent brain damage.

The court heard that Detective Constable Beresford had been out since lunchtime with colleagues from the Durham force, celebrating an impending marriage.

He admits punching Mr McMillan but claims he lashed out after someone punched one of his colleagues.

Det Con Beresford, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, denies causing grievous bodily harm.

The trial continues.