Spennymoor man pleads guilty to causing GBH with intent

Shay Holmes was initially charged with attempted murder but the Crown Prosecution Service accepted his plea to the lesser charge.

The 23-year-old also pleaded guilty to a count of dangerous driving following the alleged ‘hit-and-run’ on January 8 this year.

He entered a not guilty plea to the charge of attempted murder but guilty to GBH with intent.

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, said: “The Crown has reviewed this case very carefully and I have had a case conference with the police and we are content with the offer of the pleas.

“Therefore, in due course we will offer no evidence on count one (the attempted murder charge).”

Judge Jonathan Carroll remanded Holmes in custody to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be compiled.

“You will be sentenced in due course,” he said. “You should understand that a custodial sentence is inevitable.

“I will adjourn the case for a pre-sentence report so the question of dangerousness can be assessed.”

Carr Lane in Spennymoor (Image: ANNA BARNES)

His arrest was made after a 44-year-old man was left with critical injuries after being hit by a car on Carr Lane shortly after 1am.

The surrounding area was taped off following the incident, with pictures showing police cars at the scene while a number of items lay in the road.

At the time Durham Police later launched an appeal for any residents with CCTV to get in touch.

Holmes, of Tudhoe Moor, Spennymoor, will return to court on June 19 to be sentenced.