A MAN who attacked his partner's new boyfriend after she dumped him and found a new love was given a community order.
Pennine magistrates heard how Stephen Anthony Fallon called his rival Gareth Kirkbride a rat, said he would kill him and told Lindsay Holdsworth he still loved her.
Fallon had thrown punches at the victim, but missed, after turning up in Miss Hol
dsworth's garden and had then hit him hard to the left side of his face, hitting his eye socket and causing pain to his head.
Mr Kirkbride was left with a black eye and grazes to his nose. He would say he did nothing to provoke the attack, the hearing was told.
Fallon (26), of Hargreaves Street, Colne, admitted assault by beating. He must do 140 hours unpaid work and pay £150 compensation.
Mr Bill Maude (prosecuting) said Fallon had shouted to Miss Holdsworth that she had dumped him for the victim. Miss Holdsworth tried to keep him away from her new partner, but he pushed past her and set about Mr Kirkbride.
Mr Lee Hammond (defending) said Fallon would say there had been a verbal altercation and it had been six of one and half a dozen of the other. He made admissions to the police, saying he had punched the victim once.
The assault took place days after an inquest into the death of the defendant's mother. His relationship with Miss Holdsworth had ended two weeks before and the defendant was emotional. He would not normally have reacted in that way.
