A TRIO carried out a drunken attack on a man who asked them to leave his flat in the early hours.

Durham Crown Court heard all four had been drinking heavily earlier during a night round Chester-le-Street town centre.

The 23-year-old made his way back to his flat in Wensley Close, Ouston, near Chester-le-Street, where he was joined by Kevin Alan Graham, Garrett John Mitchell and Scott Oliver.

Amanda Rippon, prosecuting, told the court the victim became tired and wanted to go to bed, so he asked the others to leave.

"He approached Oliver, picked him up by the shirt and tried to eject him. He clenched his fist to hit him and was punched first.

"After that, he's unable to say who was attacking him, other than Mr Oliver delivering the first blow.

"He was unaware who was delivering all the blows, but he suffered a fractured cheek bone, fractured nose, and a fractured arm which had to be placed in a plaster cast."

Graham, 23, of Primrose Gardens, Ouston, Mitchell, 21, of Bradley Close, in nearby Urpeth Grange, and 19-year-old Oliver, of Brecon Place, Chester-le-Street, each denied wounding with intent, but offered guilty pleas to the lesser offence of causing grievous bodily harm.

Miss Rippon said after consulting the Crown Prosecution Service lawyer in the case and the victim, she was prepared to accept the pleas offered.

Following a request by defence barristers, Judge Richard Lowden adjourned sentence to allow reports to be drawn up on the defendants by the probation service.

Bailing them to return for sentence on August 18, Judge Lowden said: "Don't take that as any kind of hint of indication as to what the outcome might be."