A THUG violently attacked a man in a pub toilet over an ex-girlfriend, a court heard.

David Andrew Jackson followed his victim into the men's room at The Black Horse Public House, in Consett, before grabbing him by the throat from behind whilst he was urinating.

The 36-year-old went on to violently assault the man, headbutting, punching and kicking him numerous times.

His victim was left unconscious on the floor with cuts to his face.

Paul Anderson, prosecuting, said: "[The victim] entered the pub in Consett and he noticed the defendant was stood at the bar.

"There had previously been some animosity between the pair over a former girlfriend.

"He went into the toilet and the defendant followed him in. He anticipated an assault of some kind.

"The incident was caught on CCTV and it shows the defendant grabbing him around the neck, headbutting him eight times and punching him 14 times.

"He falls to the floor and he is kicked six times whilst he is on the floor.

"Many of the blows [the victim] made were to defend himself.

"It is a matter of good fortune that the injuries suffered by the victim were not more severe."

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court heard that the victim was left with bruising to his torso, stomach, back and shoulders and cuts to this face.

He was rendered unconscious during the attack.

Mr Anderson added: "The defendant was interviewed and told police at the station that his recollection of the evening was hazy due to the amount of alcohol he had taken on board during the lead up to the assault.

"He was shown the CCTV from the pub and he accepted that the victim had not been aggressive towards him at all.

"He accepts eight headbutts and 14 punches but states four kicks whilst the victim was on the floor.

"He told police that he had absolutely no idea what he was thinking when the assault was taking place."

Jackson, of Chaytor Road, Consett, pleaded guilty to assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm on June 8 this year.

Magistrates sitting at Newton Aycliffe declined jurisdiction and Jackson will appear before a judge at Durham Crown Court.

His will appear for sentence on Tuesday, December 22.