AN Italian restaurant worker hit out with a wooden rod and dumb-bells when he found his flatmate in his bed with a woman, York magistrates heard.

Paolo Floris wept in court as Sandra White described how he had attacked Mariano Pinna with a stair spindle and then thrown dumb-bells at him.

The two men had gone out for the evening together after Floris finished work on Friday night, but became separated and Mr Pinna, with a woman, returned to their flat in Dixon's Yard, off Walmgate, first.

When Floris returned to the flat and went into his bedroom, he found the other two in his bed.

First he shouted at the couple to leave, then he fetched the wooden rod and hit Mr Pinna on the head, then he threw dumb-bells at him. Mr Pinna dodged the dumb-bells, but needed 12 stitches for the wound caused by the stair spindle.

After the attack, he fled the flat, but in the street outside, Floris tripped him up and punched him, said Mrs White.

A passing taxi driver intervened and police were called.

“I am very sorry,” said Floris through an interpreter at the end of the hearing.

Floris, 27, has been in Britain for three months and works next door to the flats at Il Paradiso del Cibo, owned by popular York restaurateur Paolo Silesu.

Floris pleaded guilty to wounding. Magistrates decided the case was too serious for them and committed him to York Crown Court for trial. He will appear there on November 14.

They released him on bail after his employer surrendered Floris' Italian ID card to the prosecution. As a European Union citizen, he was able to use it instead of a passport to enter the UK.

Floris must live at an address in Amber Street, The Groves, report once a week to Fulford Road Police Station, keep out of Dixon’s Yard and not contact Mr Pinna in any way.

Mr Pinna does not work at the restaurant and can get in and out of the flat by an entrance some distance from the restaurant entrance.