A dad of two has been jailed after brutally attacking a "vulnerable" neighbour who has been left disfigured and needing to drink from a straw.
Matthew Bennellick attacked Andrew Tucker while he was in his front garden over a long standing dispute regarding a "building control application", on July 23, 2021.
Plymouth Crown Court was told Mr Tucker spent several days in hospital after the attack and had operations to insert four metal plates in his face and head.
Mr Tucker's left eye is now permanently lower than his right and he suffered nerve damage to his lip and nose, causing him to need a straw to drink, reported Plymouth Live.
Prosecutor Sophie Johns said that on the day of the attack, Bennellick went round to his neighbour in St Budeaux and grabbed Mr Tucker by the throat before pushing him to the floor whereupon he struck him "15 or 20 times".
Ms Johns said Bennellick shouted: "Die, b***ard", telling the older man to "stay down". He eventually stopped and shouted "do you need an ambulance, I will get you a f***ing ambulance."
Mrs Bennellick called for an ambulance, as did Mr Tucker and he was taken to Derriford Hospital where he was assessed as having "complicated facial fractures which will have a lifelong impact".
This included a skull fracture, a fractured eye socket and blood pooled behind his left eye causing a temporary loss of sight. He also suffered a bleed on his brain.
Ms Johns said that when he was arrested, Bennellick, who has no previous convictions or cautions, was sitting on his sofa with an ice pack on his knuckles.
He later told police Mr Tucker had raised his hand while holding a trowel so he hit him "three or four times".
Reading a victim impact statement in court, Mr Tucker said that he had " sepsis related Crohn's disease" since he was young and in March 2021 underwent an operation, after which he was convalescing.
He said the assault had left him permanently disfigured and he was self-conscious as people would frequently comment about his appearance.
He continued that despite Bennellick moving from the area to Grimsby in October 2021 he still "didn't feel safe in my own home".
And he added that Bennellick was "twice my size and weight" and was "quite aware of my Crohn's".
In mitigation, Michael Green asked the judge, Mr Recorder Matthew Turner, to recognise the "context" to the case, namely the long running dispute between the two neighbours which did not justify the assault, but highlighted that it was not a random incident.
Mr Recorder Turner acknowledged Mr Green's point that had Bennellick "not snapped" and acted out of character the matter would not have been before the courts, although he noted that this was no excuse for what took place.
Mr Green reiterated that his client had said the "red mist descended" and that he "fully admits that he 'lost it'.
Mr Recorder Turner said the only response to such a "sustained, persistent assault" on a "vulnerable man", using "gratuitous violence" was a term of incarceration.
He sentenced Bennellick to 14 months in jail, of which he would serve half before being released on licence. He did not order any costs or compensation, but said Bennellick would have to pay a victim surcharge.
