(Image: The Northern Echo)
A teenager who admits stealing a bike from a stranger in Durham city centre has denied an alleged wounding charge when the owner tried to retrieve the cycle.
Leyton George admits striking the victim with a bottle in the aftermath of the bike theft but he claims he was acting in “self-defence" when he was pursued and attacked.
The 18-year-old defendant appeared at Durham Crown Court for a plea hearing on charges arising from the incident in Claypath in the city, on Thursday October 2.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of the bike but denied a second count of wounding with intent.
Court heard that teenage bicycle thief was chased and caught by owner in front of a number of onlookers, including parked up taxi drivers, in Claypath, Durham
(Image: The Northern Echo)
Asked by Judge Richard Clews for his explanation as to his plea to the second count, Jane Foley, representing the defendant, said: “It’s self-defence, your honour.”
She told the court: “What happened was he stole the bike and was riding on it, when he was grappled by the complainant and grabbed from the bike.
“It’s alleged that he dismounted and attacked the complainant, punching him, but that’s not what we see on the CCTV footage.
“He said when the bike was removed from him he was attacked, not just by one man.
“He was held in a headlock on the ground and saw the bottle, reached out and grabbed it, striking the complainant with it once to the head.
“This was played out in front of a lot of people in the vicinity, including taxi drivers parked up nearby.
“A lot of people were getting involved, coming and going and punching the defendant.”
Ben Sayers, prosecuting, said it appears to have been “something of a protracted incident with a number of individuals involved”.
Judge Clews asked the Crown to “have a think” about whether the wounding with intent allegation should be pursued.
He adjourned the case for an answer to that to be given by the prosecution at a further hearing, next month, but if the allegation is maintained, a provisional date for trial was fixed for February 1, 2028.
The defendant, of Millway Close, Gateshead, was bailed with a condition not to enter Durham city centre, but to attend court for the next hearing, on September 17.