A GRANDFATHER was stamped to death by his son-in-law after a family conference over his drinking, a court was told yesterday.

Mark Gladstone, 32, admits killing Bill Jackson, 63, who died in hospital two months later, said his barrister James Goss QC, but a jury must decide whether he is guilty of murder or manslaughter by provocation.

Police had been called out on previous occasions to deal with the drunken behaviour of County Durham widower Mr Jackson, which caused "distress and embarrassment" to his family, said Christopher Knox, prosecuting.

The night before the fatal incident, Mr Jackson ran amok with a knife in the street in Peterlee where he and his two daughters and son lived with their partners.

He was threatening to chop off the head of whoever was responsible for letting his dogs loose.

The next morning there was a family conference in Mr Gladstone's home over Mr Jackson's drinking but he walked off refusing to change his behaviour.

Later, Mr Gladstone went to Mr Jackson's home to collect some TV licence money from him but instead launched into a raging attack, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Mr Knox said that Mr Gladstone later told police: "When he went down I just totally, utterly lost control. It wasn't until I saw the blood that I stepped back and thought, 'What have I done ?'."

Mr Jackson was given emergency surgery for severe internal injuries but died two months later.

Mr Gladstone, also of Galloway Road, Peterlee, pleads not guilty to murder on August 25, last year.

The case continues.