A MAN who struck a friend with a hammer after an evening out drinking has been locked up for three years.

David Boyes and his friend, Denver Godfrey, had been drinking together when a fight began between them. Boyes later struck Mr Godfrey with a hammer.

Boyes, 20, of Grasmere Road, Darlington, appeared before Teesside Crown Court and admitted wounding Mr Godfrey. He had also previously admitted two offences of burglary.

Judge Leslie Spittle ordered Boyes to serve 12 months of an unexpired custodial sentence plus 18 months in a young offenders' institution for the wounding and six months for the burglaries.

Nigel Soppitt, prosecuting, said Mr Godfrey suffered three broken ribs in the attack in July.

The two men had been drinking and had gone to another friend's home where Mr Godfrey drank three-quarters of a bottle of brandy before there was an altercation, said Mr Soppitt.

Peter Makepeace, for Boyes, said he handed himself in to the police the next day.

He could remember being out drinking and a fight earlier in the evening, but he could not remember that he had attacked Mr Godfrey with the hammer. He was horrified at what he had done.