A MAN who attacked his former girlfriend’s lover with a lump hammer has been jailed for eight years.

Tobias Greenwood, 23, appeared before Preston Crown Court after he attacked Bradley Geelan when he found him with his former girlfriend, Emily Dearden, at her home in Clitheroe in June.

Greenwood, who had an on and off relationship with Miss Dearden for two years, had broken into her home through a downstairs window, with a friend, Wesleigh Russell, armed with a lump hammer and swung it at Mr Geelan several times, causing damage to his ribs, the court heard.

Ben Lawrence, prosecuting, said there was shouting, swearing and banging during the attack.

He said: “(Greenwood) attacked Mr Geelan, he swung the hammer at his head, Mr Geelan had to take evasive action.

“(Greenwood) picked up a wine glass and struck Mr Geelan over the head with it, that caused some injuries.

“He also picked up an iron and tried to hit him with it.

“Miss Dearden tried to intervene, but Mr Greenwood pushed her away.

“He struck Mr Geelan in the ribs with the hammer and threw a laptop computer at him, it damaged the laptop and a TV was damaged after it was removed from its fixings.

“He said to Mr Geelan ‘this is what you get when you mess with the big boys’ then he left and drove away.”

The court heard Greenwood had entered the house prior to the attack after he had asked to collect some belongings. After being told by Miss Dearden she was not home, Greenwood had broken in through a downstairs window and found Miss Dearden with Mr Geelan.

Greenwood, a stonemason, then stole her iPhone 7 before returning later that night.

Within a victim statement read out in court, Mr Geelan said he was having problems sleeping following the assault and wakes up in the night thinking someone is in the bedroom and attacking him.

Alex Rostron, defending, said Greenwood was not looking to cause trouble.

He said: “He described it as a moment of madness.

“He behaved entirely out of character.

“He has done himself no favours by going back, which is the serious element.

“He’s picked up what he accepted was a weapon.”

Greenwood pleaded guilty to eight counts, including assault, burglary, possession of an offensive weapon, aggravated burglary, battery, causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

Greenwood was given eight years' imprisonment and was given a restraining order to make sure of no further contact with Mr Geelan.

Recorder Julie Clemitson said: “One could understand why (Mr Geelan) feared for his life and fought back. He feared for his life. You had time to reflect and make the decision to go back.”

Mr Russell was found not guilty of all charges during a previous trial.