A man attacked his love rival with a stair spindle after he turned up at his ex-girlfriend's house uninvited.
Lee Paul Watts, 50, had been told by a friend that Lee Collier was at the woman's house - despite being prohibited from going there by means of a DVPO (Domestic Violence Protection Order).
When Watts, of Worsley, arrived, the pair began to fight, with Mr Collier kicking a spindle from the stairs, Manchester Crown Court heard.
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The fight moved outside, at which point Watts grabbed the spindle from him, and struck him ‘five to ten’ times.
Mr Collier was left with six marks to his back, including on which measured 15 centimetres, as well as two lacerations to his head and face.
The court was told that he and Watts’ ex-partner has not assisted with the prosecution.
Watts pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was today (January 28) jailed for over three years.
David James, prosecuting, told the court that the woman and Mr Collier had previously been in a relationship, but he was not allowed to attend at her home under the terms of a DVPO because of previous domestic violence incidents.
“On May 14 2020, at around 11am, the defendant turns up at his ex-partner’s home, when he demands for the door to be opened he is ignored, then he barges through the front door,” he said.
“The incident happened in front of a neighbour, who was present with her child.
“In his basis of plea, he said: “Collier went to kick me through the spindles of the stairs.
“It caused it to snap and we both walked outside and I accept I assaulted Collier with the weapon used as a spindle.
“During the assault I accept I took the spindle from him and struck him with it.”
The prosecutor said Watts hit Mr Collier with the spindle "five to 10 times".
He was taken to hospital for medical attention, and told the woman not to speak to the police, and refused to provide his medical records.
Watts was arrested and his phone was seized, but he initially refused to provide the PIN number.
However, officers were able to access the phone and arrested him again, at which point he provided a prepared statement denying any responsibility for the assault, instead blaming a ‘unknown local enemy’.
Upon analysis of the phone, it became clear that there was ‘animosity’ between the two, with Watts stating: “I wanna kill him”, and claiming to his ex that Mr Collier was the reason why they had split up.
Mr Collier did not provide a victim impact statement, nor did he assist the police or prosecution with their enquiries, Mr James added.
Watts was said to have a number of previous convictions including for offences of theft and drug offences.
Mitigating, his barrister Paul Hodgkinson said his client did not bring the weapon to the scene, and that instead, the victim had broken the spindle by kicking it, picked it up, and Watts took it off him.
“The complainant in this case has frequently beaten up the defendant’s ex-partner, and on this occasion a friend has messaged this defendant to say he was there again,” Mr Hodgkinson said.
“Since then, the victim in this case has been sent to prison, and the reason for going to prison is because he had been round at the house again and smashed up the house from inside out.
“It’s a brave plea.
“Initially it was a fight - the defendant took it too far.”
Sentencing, Recorder Michael Blakey said: “This wasn’t a revenge attack perhaps, but it seems to me you knew trouble would occur as demonstrated in the text messages.
“I do not know the extent of his injuries, nor do I know the impact on him.
“But this violence was unnecessary.
“It was your choice to go there - you have to face the consequences.”
Watts, of Old Wells Close, was jailed for 37 months.
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