Jealous boyfriend jailed for wounding

A THUG who viciously beat a man he found in bed with his girl friend, has been jailed for 12 months.

Lee Smallwood (26) found the pair asleep upstairs at her home in Hollinwood, when he returned there to patch up a row they had the previous day.

Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court was told that he saw red when he found them naked together, and immediately attacked Jamie Bilton, punching him about the head, then repeatedly kicking him when he fell defenceless on the floor.

Mr Bilton was later taken to hospital with a fractured cheekbone and nose, and was unable to work for five months.

Judge Adrian Smith told Smallwood: “This man was asleep when he found himself caught up in your turbulent and emotionally-disturbed relationship.

“You laid into him, punched him several times, and kicked him while he was down on the floor. Such behaviour cannot be excused, and I would be failing in my public duty if I did not pass an immediate custodial sentence.”

Sol Broady, prosecuting, said that Smallwood, of Verne Drive, Sholver, had a rocky relationship with his girl friend, Linday Eyre, and that the day before the incident in November last year, he left her home in Kimberley Street, Hollinwood, after another row. Ms Eyre later told him she didn’t want him at the house, and asked him to return her keys.

On November 7, she went into Oldham town centre with a girl friend, and met up with Mr Bilton and another man.

After a night visiting pubs and clubs, the pair took a taxi back to her home.

Mr Broady said that when arrested after the attack, Smallwood — who admitted unlawful wounding — said he returned to the house not knowing anyone but his former partner was there.

He said he smelled aftershave when he went inside, and when he went upstairs couldn’t believe what he saw.

Mr Bilton has been left with tingling sensations in his cheek and nose following the attack. He has to take tablets to help him sleep, and has lost his confidence because of what happened to him.

Charlotte Crangle, defending, said that her client’s recollection of what happened was vague. He returned to the home in a bid to patch up their difficulties, but a “red mist descended” when he saw her lying naked with another man.

She said: “He has shown genuine remorse and victim empathy, including understanding the psychological impact that this attack would have caused.”