A jealous Washington man carried out a "ferocious" attack on a man and punched him around 30 times, leaving his face a "bloody pulp".
John Wardle believed he was in a relationship with a woman but became enraged when he saw another man leave her home on December 23, last year. The 32-year-old then attacked the man, putting him in a chokehold and knocking him unconscious after punching him around 30 times before going on to kick him in the head while he lay motionless on the ground.
A month later, Wardle followed the woman's car in an attempt to intimidate her, driving dangerously behind her and ramming into her vehicle before he was arrested. Wardle, of Roche Court, Washington, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Monday, via link from HMP Durham, to be sentenced for causing grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving. He had pleaded guilty to the charges.
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Daniel Cordey, prosecuting, said Wardle carried out the attack on the man in an area of Stanley, days before Christmas, last year. He said: "CCTV showed the victim walking along the pavement with a vehicle behind him. Seconds later the the defendant can be seen running towards him. He then grabbed him and wrapped his arms around his throat, dragged him into the road and placed him in some form of chokehold."
Mr Cordey said both men fell to the ground, with Wardle ending up sitting on top of him before raining down around 30 punches to his head. He said: "The victim was not resisting and the defendant stands up and kicks him in the head as he's still lying on the ground, not moving. He then moves away from the victim who is seemingly unconscious. He then picks up what appears to be a can and throws it towards his head. He kicks him in the head before running to the car and driving away."
A passer-by then came to the aid of the victim and called the police. He was later taken to hospital where he was treated for "multiple fractures" and "facial lacerations" - he was released from hospital the next day.
A month later, on January 16, this year, Wardle was driving down the same road at around 9pm when he saw a woman and the victim in a car. Mr Cordey said: "On seeing the defendant, she drove off, fearing some kind of altercation. The defendant followed her and drove dangerously close to the car as if trying to ram it."
Terrified, the woman drove to a nearby police station before Wardle "rammed the car", causing it to be written off. Wardle, who was described as being "abusive" at the scene, was soon arrested.
Chris Morrison, defending, said the first offence took place shortly after Wardle had taken his dog to the vet, which had to be put down. He said: "He was in a substantial state of distress. He was in a relationship with a woman at the time and was unaware of her involvement with another man." Mr Morrison said Wardle had travelled in his car to the woman's home after calling her for support following the death of his dog, but she was "unsympathetic to the point of insult".
Mr Morrison added: "He arrived at her address but while sat there the door opened and the victim emerged. There was no attempt to attend the address to use violence. He had no idea she was entertaining another relationship in the first place. He admits he reacted on jealousy, the victim offered no provocation."
Mr Morrison told the court Wardle was "not a violent man by nature" and was an "avid gym trainer". "He realises he's made a serious mistake and is very sorry for what he's done", he said.
Sentencing Wardle, Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, said: "The victim was a man in a relationship with a woman who you thought you were in a relationship with. You went to her home and that man was present. You wrestled him to the ground and it appears he's unconscious after you had your arms around his neck for some time. It was a ferocious assault."
The judge added: "You are a heavily built man and you could easily have killed him. You left his face a bloody pulp."
Wardle was jailed for two years and banned from driving for 36 months.
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