Hartlepool man in court after row at Seaton Carew bowling alley led to assault

Brian Morrow pleaded guilty to assault when he appeared before Teesside Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard the incident had happened at Larry’s Lanes in Seaton Carew on September 28 last year when Steven Cook ended up being assaulted.

Alan Davison, prosecuting, said: “Mr Cook was with a group of about ten people and Mr Morrow was sat nearby with his partner.”

He said although Morrow knew some of the other members in the party, he did not know Mr Cook.

Mr Davison said there was an exchange of words and Morrow told the people in Mr Cook’s group to stop staring at him.

He said: “Things became a bit heightened. Mr Morrow said ‘do you want to get them to wrap in?’ Mr Cook felt he was being intimidating and told him to turn around.”

Mr Davison said: “Mr Morrow got out of his chair agitated and said ‘come on outside’ and Mr Cook said ‘no’.”

He said the next thing Mr Cook knew was that he was being struck on the side of the face and the pair started to grapple.

He said: “Mr Cook put Mr Morrow in a headlock to try and defend himself.”

The solicitor said Mr Cook’s t-shirt was ripped during the incident and he suffered a graze to his cheek and pain in his upper back.

Morrow, an asbestos stripper of Wynyard Road, Hartlepool, was fined £450 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £45 surcharge as well as £45 in compensation.