A MAN who attacked an amorous couple outside a Darlington nightclub when he was out celebrating his 21st birthday has been ordered to complete 80 hours unpaid work.

James Stuart Chapman yelled at the couple to “get a room” before turning violent against them, magistrates in Newton Aycliffe were told.

Prosecutor Vicky Wilson said the couple were outside Inside Out in Darlington at around 2.15am on October 6 last year when Chapman spotted them embracing.

The man tried to push Chapman away at which point he threw several punches, two of which caught the man in the face with a third hitting the woman and giving her a black eye.

A taxi driver who spotted the assault reported Chapman to police, the court heard.

In a statement to the court the woman said her anxiety had increased after the attack and she was self-conscious about going outside because of her black eye.

Peter Cheng, representing Chapman, said the 21-year-old of Brinkburn Drive, Darlington, who had been out celebrating his birthday on the night of the attack, was ashamed and embarrassed about his behaviour especially after one of his punches caught the woman.

Chapman initially denied the assault, but later changed his plea to guilty, the court heard.

Magistrates ordered Chapman to complete 80 hours unpaid work over the next 12 months.

He must also pay £125 compensation to the woman he hit, £120 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.