A SPENNYMOOR man was unable to complete a community punishment order after losing the sight in his right eye, a court heard yesterday.

Magistrates at Newton Aycliffe were told that Shaun Ryan Freeman, of Oxclose Crescent, had a broken bottle forced into his face by a 12-year-old girl.

The 18-year-old was in court after admitting breaching a community punishment order imposed in July for possession of Ecstasy and cannabis.

Probation officer Ray Landon told the court the breaches had been because Freeman was suffering from depression, but that he had suffered a further serious injury which would make it difficult for him to complete the order.

Freeman's solicitor, Andrew Swan, said he had been attacked by a male passenger on a bus just after New Year.

He said: "Towards the end of that assault he was approached by a family member of this male, who was a 12-year-old girl.

"She proceeded to smash a bottle across Mr Freeman's head and then took the bottle and forced it into his eye.

"Since then he's lost the sight in that right eye and the prognosis isn't particularly good. He's been told that even if his sight does come back it will be quite some time before that occurs.

"As a consequence of that he's lost his full-time employment and his statutory sick pay. I don't think things could have gone much worse for Mr Freeman."

Magistrates revoked the community punishment order and imposed a 12-month conditional discharge.