A man battered his best friend in a "frenzied” attack after learning he was dating his ex.
The victim, Liam Traynor, had opened his front door to Benjamin Holland thinking they were going out to breakfast but was instead viciously assaulted.
He was repeatedly punched in the face and Holland kicked him in the ribs while he was lying curled up in a ball.
READ MORE: Couple's romantic city break ruined by apartment 'covered in blood and condom wrappers'
He then walked off leaving his victim covered in blood and with agonising facial fractures.
A judge told Holland he should “grow up” and that his ex's love life was none of his business.
Liverpool Crown Court was told the incident happened at 7am on October 1 last year when Mr Traynor heard banging on the front door of his home in Cearns Road, Oxton, Wirral.
He looked at his phone for the time and saw that Holland was ringing him and was outside.
Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, said: “He thought he was calling him because they had arranged to go out for breakfast.
“He answered the door thinking nothing of it. The defendant was outside and as soon as the door was pulled open he said, ‘I believe you have something to tell me’.
“Liam Traynor was still half asleep and was wiping the sleep out of his eyes and out of nowhere Holland swung at his face, with what was described as a right hook, which connected with his left cheek leaving him dazed.
“He stumbled back and immediately suffered from tunnel vision. He was taken completely by surprise and had no idea what was going on.
“He placed his guard up to try to protect his face but the defendant was swinging right hooks with all of his force. The defendant was shouting ’stay the f*** away from Georgia’ as he kept throwing punches at his face and left side of his body.”
Mr Blasbery said that to protect himself Mr Traynor dropped to the floor and curled into a ball and felt a kick to his ribs and Holland continued punching him in the face and rib area.
During the attack, which lasted two or three minutes, Mr Traynor feared for his life and Holland kept saying "keep the f*** away from her."
Holland then walked into his victim's flat and into the bedroom.
Mr Blasbery said the victim believed Holland was looking for Georgia “who was the previous partner of the defendant and who the complainant had started a relationship with."
He added: “Liam Traynor attempted to stand up and lost his footing and collapsed to his knees and saw blood pouring from his face and immediately thought he needed an ambulance and called his mother.”
While waiting he thought about what happened and concluded it was because he had been sleeping with Holland’s ex-partner for three weeks but he thought only they knew about it.
He started vomiting and feeling dazed and afraid and when his mum came round she rushed him to A&E. He was found to have fractures to his left eye socket and cheek bone and swelling to his skull and face.
Doctors were concerned about his left eye and he was sent to a specialist. A CT scan showed the minimally displaced facial fractures were consistent “with a very high energy blow” such as caused by a kick or a stamp, though it was accepted by the prosecution that he had not been kicked to the face, said Mr Blasbery.
Mr Blasbery added: “Mr Traynor was told he was lucky he did not require surgery or sustained life changing injuries.”
The defendant was arrested shortly afterwards and said that he and Mr Traynor were “best friends.”
He said he became aware that Mr Traynor was having a relationship with his ex “behind his back and attended the address with the intention of talking to him."
Mr Blasbery said: “On arrival he asked if he had something to tell him and he alleged Mr Traynor moved towards him and he swung his fist. He admitted he saw red and went too far. He said he had no intention to cause injuries and was remorseful.”
Holland, 26, a self-employed welder, of Gorsefield Road, Oxton, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.
The judge, Recorder Katherine Pierpoint said: “You left not seeking help for him, leaving him bleeding in his own doorway.”
She told Holland: “It has nothing to do with you what your ex-partner and friend want to do. You need to grow up and learn that.”
She added: “You could have killed him or he could have ended up with serious and life changing injuries. It was a prolonged and persistent attack in that doorway.
“It was not a case of striking out once, you continued and continued until he lay there bleeding on the floor. You also did kick him but only on one occasion.”
She added that he had punched him so hard that it was consistent with the force of a kick or stamp.
Recorder Pierpoint sentenced him to two years imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered him to carry out 250 hours unpaid work and 10 days rehabilitation activities.
The judge also imposed a four month curfew between 10 - 7 am and ordered him to pay £500 compensation and £300 costs. She imposed an indefinite restraining order to keep away from his victim.
Julian Nutter, defending, had told the court that references for the defendant included one from his rugby club, a retired police officer and the mother of his two-year-old son.
He described Holland’s behaviour as “wholly out of character”, adding “he felt horribly betrayed by his best friend. He could not believe it had happened.”
The “frenzied attack” was a moment in an otherwise hard working and blameless life which he deeply regrets and he wishes to apologise, said Mr Nutter.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
