A man who attacked his ex-girlfriend’s current partner has been ordered to pay criminal injury compensation to his victim.
Martin Stokes attacked Darren Robinson while he was in bed with his girlfriend.
In court it transpired Stokes had been in a relationship with Lauren Stanier for seven months but it had come to an end. Despite the finality, Stokes had refused to accept it was over and sent her text messages declaring his feelings and warning her against new relationships.
Two months after the relationship had ended, Stokes had called at her home at 7am in the morning and broke in to the house. After finding a frying pan to use as a weapon he went upstairs and attacked Mr Robinson in bed while he slept, repeatedly hitting him. When his ex-girlfriend tried to stop the assault he punched her in the nose.
Mr Robinson was treated in hospital for multiple head and shoulder injuries.
In court Stokes, 26, accepted his behaviour was inexcusable.
As a result, he was sentenced to 51 weeks in prison, which was suspended for 18 months, after pleading guilty to common assault perpetrated against Mr Robinson and Ms Stanier. He was also ordered to pay Mr Robinson £350 compensation and Ms Stanier £150, and has been made subject of a restraining order.
Presiding judge, Angela Nield said: “You chose to take matters into your own hands over the future of what you considered to be an on-going relationship.
“I cannot ignore the nature of the assault on Mr Robinson which involved blows to the head which could easily have caused much more serious injury.”
