A FEUD erupted when a 61-year-old man attacked a pensioner with a hammer and his own walking stick in a betting shop.

Hashi Dualeh hit Mohammed Ahmed, 65 with a hammer wrapped in a carrier bag, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Dualeh assaulted the disabled pensioner on May 8 after a long- running feud, the court was told.

He launched the attack as Mr Ahmed was leaving the toilets of a betting shop in Green Lane, South Shields.

Prosecutor Rachel Hedworth told the court: "Mr Ahmed returned to the main shop area of the betting shop and felt a blow to his mouth.

"He dropped his walking stick and fell to the floor, with his mouth sore and bleeding.

"Dualeh grabbed hold of his walking stick and hit him across the arms, shoulders and back with it.

"As he was hitting him, he was shouting 'I will kill you, I will kill you. You will never stay alive'.

"With blood pouring from a face wound, Mr Ahmed shouted 'He's crazy. He attacked me with a hammer for no reason - this is a tribal issue'."

Ms Hedworth said betting shop staff and customers managed to get Dualeh away from him.

When the emergency services arrived at the betting shop, Dualeh was still at the scene and was arrested.

Mr Ahmed was taken to hospital for treatment. He suffered cuts and bruises to his face and body in the attack.

Dualeh, of Brunswick Street, South Shields, admitted assault and possession of an offensive weapon.

He said he thought Mr Ahmed was a nuisance who insisted on talking about Somalia, even though Dualeh had not been there for more than 40 years.

Judge Dennis Orde sentenced Dualeh to 12 months probation and ordered him to pay £150 costs.