A man left his friend's head pouring with blood after a fight broke out in his nan's kitchen.
A court heard how Jake Kelly, 27, of Latimer Street, Vauxhall smashed an LFC mug over Mark Duncalf's head after an arranged meeting took place in April last year.
The incident took place after Kelly's nan became concerned over the men's friendship so had arranged for them both to meet at her home to resolve their differences.
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Ken Grant, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that while both men where at the address in Notre Dame Close, Everton, Mr Duncalf began going through his friend’s mobile phone leading to the violent argument.
Whilst in the kitchen, Duncalf told police Kelly head butted him and a fight ensued during which Kelly picked up a Liverpool FC mug and he then felt a blow to the head.
Mr Grant told the court police were called to the address and found the victim in front garden “covered in blood and clearly in need of medical assistance as he had a large injury to the back of his head which was bleeding profusely".
He added: “Inside the hallway they noticed blood on the floor and living room and a smashed bottle of red wine with the contents splashed on the ceiling - obvious signs of a violent disturbance.
"They found the defendant in the living room. He was under the influence of alcohol and had facial cuts and swelling and his clothing was covered in blood.
"The officers tried to discover if Kelly's nan Anita Cavanagh had any injuries and when she said she had been bitten on the hand Kelly became angry. He shouted, ‘Is he still here?’ and got up and ran at one of the constables who tried to stop him by grabbing his arms."
Kelly managed to escape and ran into the hallway where the other officer was standing. Kelly was brought to the floor but struggled as they tried to handcuff him and ignored requests to calm down.
Mr Grant added: “He said to one officer, ‘don’t touch me or I’ll bite your finger off."
As he made threats about spitting and biting he was sprayed which calmed him down and the officer then noticed he had suffered grazed fingers and one had a small cut.
When Mr Duncalf was spoken to he said they had met on the internet in January 2019 but were not in a sexual relationship “they were just good friends however the friendship had been somewhat volatile.”
They had had fights and Kelly had reported him for harassment and he claimed Kelly owed him £130.
He said he went to the house about 9pm after Kelly’s nan rang him and he took two bottles of wine with him.
Mr Grant said: "The defendant displayed something of an attitude towards him straight away. He appeared drunk and said he had been drinking from about 4pm.
"He said he and the defendant began to fight in the hallway but he managed to get away and got into the garden
“Blood began to gush from his head and he recalled seeing blood everywhere. This resulted in him leaving the address but he soon realised he was badly injured and went back in and asked the grandmother to call him an ambulance."
Mr Grant said that at hospital it was found he had three lacerations to the back and side of his head, a laceration to his upper lip, a damaged incisor tooth and fracture to the bone over his upper teeth.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that in an impact statement from Mr Duncalf said he had been suffering panic attacks and anxiety since the incident.
Kelly pleaded guilty on the day his trial was due to start to inflicting grievous bodily harm on the basis he had used excessive self-defence by lashing out at him with the mug during the fight.
He also admitted assaulting an emergency worker.
Jason Smith, defending, said that there had been “an on-going history” between the two men with police involvement and Kelly’s grandmother had been trying to act as peacemaker.
Kelly had no previous convictions and there have been no further incidents and Mr Smith suggested that any sentence of imprisonment could be suspended. He said Kelly has mental health problems and is on benefits as he does not work.
Judge David Swinnerton told Kelly he had “behaved appallingly to your so called friend”.
He got Mr Smith to show him a photograph of the victim’s injuries and told Kelly: ”It was an appalling injury you caused to someone you called your friend.”
The judge said it had been “over the top violence” involving a weapon in the shape of the mug and the victim had lost consciousness at one point.
He added that he had exhibited aggression to the police officers.
Judge Swinnerton said: "You are not a teenager, you are 27 and the way you behaved was totally immature and disgraceful. I hope you understand and accept that.”
Kelly was sentenced to 16 months in prison suspended for 18 months. A six month curfew was also imposed between 7am-7pm.
The judge added: “I’m well aware that will include Christmas and New Year so you will not be going out socialising as you might like to do and that is part of the punishment.
“For the next six months you will not be going out drinking because of the curfew so you have more money to pay compensation at the rate of £100 per month."
The judge also ordered him to carry out 30 days rehabilitation activities and to pay £500 compensation to Mr Duncalf and £100 to the injured police officer.
He imposed a five year restraining order to keep away from his victim and said that would be “time to forget about each other and move on with your lives.”
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