Love rival lured to Portsmouth flat by ex-girlfriend is punched, headbutted and kicked by her boyfriend

Callum Thomas, 22, launched the attack on his teenage rival after the pair became involved in a bitter confrontation in the early hours of March 7, 2020.

Thomas, who began a relationship with his victim’s former partner, acted in self-defence but went ‘too far’.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard how the victim was messaged by his former girlfriend before agreeing to meet outside her city flat after initially ‘ignoring her’.

But after turning up at the location, the victim’s ex-partner suddenly disappeared before Thomas, who has since ended the relationship with the woman, appeared and a fight broke out.

Prosecutor Matthew Lawson said: ‘(Thomas) said he felt threatened and struck a pre-emptive punch in self-defence. Blows were then exchanged before Mr Thomas headbutted him.’

At this point a friend of Thomas had arrived at the scene before trying to ‘split up’ the fight – with him landing blows on both men as he attempted to keep the peace.

The victim then ‘went to the floor’ before Thomas booted him while he was down.

It left the injured man with a black eye and cuts and bruises to his face and swelling to his head. A brain scan at hospital revealed no injuries, though.

Thomas, of previous good character, admitted a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Kaj Scarsbrook, defending, said the defendant was ‘intoxicated’ with alcohol at the time of the attack, which he was ‘deeply remorseful’ for.

The barrister said Thomas, of Yapton Road, Barnham, had since ended the relationship with the woman and was soon due to have a child with his current partner.

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Judge William Ashworth told Thomas: ‘You had never been in trouble before. You found yourself in a situation where you became emotionally embroiled with your then girlfriend and ended up in a violent confrontation.

‘You went to defend yourself but went too far by punching him repeatedly and on one occasion used your head and kicked him on the floor. Thank goodness the injuries were not that bad.’

He added: ‘It was an isolated incident and you are still young and immature. It may have been a bit of childish showing off.’

The judge sentenced Thomas to an 18-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and told him to pay compensation to his victim of £300 and court costs of £100.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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