A Pulrose man has been jailed for five years after what was described in court as an assault causing ‘sickening’ injuries.
James Wright, aged 40, of Hazel Crescent, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Callum Hunter at a Mona Street flat on June 6.
Deemster Alastair Montgomerie said: ‘You inflicted sickening injuries on this young man. It was sustained assault, you slammed your victim into a stone fireplace.
‘He feels his life has been ruined. As a result of your violence a young man is a shell of what he once was.’
Earlier prosecutor Rachael Braidwood had told the court how Wright’s former partner, Sarah Collingwood, had invited Mr Hunter back to her Mona Street flat.
He said that he fell asleep on the sofa there until he was awoken by a heavy painful blow to his head.
At 3.56am neighbours said they heard loud banging and heard a man continually shouting: ‘Who is he? What is he doing here?’
Witnesses saw a man matching Wright’s description walk quickly out of the flat followed by Mr Hunter a few minutes later who had blood all over his face.
At 4.44am Mr Hunter was seen outside A1 Taxis in Christian Road, staggering with blood covering his face.
Wright appeared and stood nose to nose with him very aggressively before leaving the area. Police followed a blood trail leading to the Mona Street flat where, upon arrival, they could hear raised voices.
Wright was in the flat with Ms Collingwood on a mobile phone, which he tried to hide down the side of a chair.
Wright claimed that Ms Collingwood had called him for help saying that she wanted Mr Hunter to leave her flat, but phone records showed that it was Wright who had contacted her first.
In a basis of plea Wright said that there had been a struggle and Mr Hunter had fallen face down on to the hearth. Wright said when Mr Hunter got up, that he ‘slammed’ him on to the fireplace.
He said that he then bundled him out, banging him into doors and walls, including banging his head.
Wright said that they then fell down the stairs but that Mr Hunter went headfirst.
Mr Hunter was said to have suffered multiple face fractures involving his jaw bone, facial bone and eye socket and had to be transported to Aintree Hospital for further treatment.
He underwent a number of operations and sustained over 16 fractures where metal plates and mesh had to be utilised. Damage to his left eye is permanent.
A statement from Mr Hunter told how he was now afraid to sleep or go outside.
A statement from Mr Hunter’s mother said: ‘Our lives have been turned upside down.’