A MAN has been spared jail after headbutting and breaking the nose of his ex-partner’s new lover.

A court heard how Craig Young, 31, flew into a jealous, drunken rage as he launched an unprovoked and brutal attack on his victim as he was getting into his car at an address in Abingdon.

The man was left bloodied and bruised by the assault and subsequently needed corrective surgery to repair the damage to his nose.

At Oxford Crown Court on Thursday, Young, of Balfour Road, Oxford, was given a 10-month sentence suspended for two years for the assault.

A hearing had previously heard how Young had driven to the area in order to borrow cash from a friend on January 28, 2017.

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While he was there, he spotted his victim, who was the new partner of his ex, coming out of her home.

After being struck by Young, the battered victim the retreated inside the home, before Young proceeded to fling rocks at both his ex-partner’s car and the victim’s car, smashing the windscreen.

After initially claiming he had acted out of self-defence, Young pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of damaging property.

The court in February heard how Young had a history with the courts, with six previous convictions for 13 offences, and was currently subject to a suspended sentence for drink-driving.

The court heard how Young had struggled with alcohol and drug addiction but had since been engaging well with probation services.

Defence barrister Richard Davies told the court on Thursday how his client was in permanent employment and now lived with his mother and niece in a home where he was the main bread winner.

Mr Davies said: "He realises what he did on that day was wrong."

He added: "Mr Young is not a violent person. Giving a suspended sentence would punish himwhile allowing him to continue to provide and contribute to the expenses at home."

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Sentencing Judge Zoe Smith said: “This was all caused through jealousy and an inability to control your emotions, although you were in a new partnership with somebody else.

“Your other offending has been mainly due to driving and drinking.

“I’m taking into account that this offence was a long time ago and you now have responsibilities given that your mother and your niece are dependent on you now.”

On top of the suspended sentence, Young was also given a suspended two month prison sentence for the damage to property to run concurrently with the 10 month suspended sentence for ABH.

He was also ordered to pay a total of £650 compensation and costs of £1,500.

An existing rehabilitation order was also extended for six months.