A man has been spared prison after a “dreadful” attack on his former partner when he went to his Brighton flat to collect his belongings after they broke up.
Jason McKinnon, 28, also known as Jason Conner, knocked Jonathan King to the floor and kept punching him in the head and face.
He admitted carrying out the attack and at Hove Crown Court this morning (Monday 9 October) he was given a suspended prison sentence by Judge Christine Laing.
The court was told that he had mental health problems, including problems with drink and drugs and previous convictions, although none for seven years.
Judge Laing said: “This is a truly dreadful assault on someone you had been in a relationship with.”
She said that it was the result of “jealousy and bad temper on your part”.
The judge added: “You continued to rain punches down on his head and face as he lay down on the floor, having gone to his flat to collect your belongings.”
If he hadn’t admitted blame, he would have been sent to prison for almost two years. Instead, the tariff was 14 months, of which he would be liable to serve half – or seven months.
Judge Laing said that he had already spent two and a half months in prison on remand so would serve just four and a half months.
And given the constraints on the prison system, the court was told that there concerns about the prospects for help to prevent reoffending by McKinnon, of Scaynes Hill Road, Lindfield.
The judge said: “You have a bad temper and have not been in any serious trouble since 2010.”
He had been in trouble previously with Mr King but was not brought before the courts.
She said that the probation service would be able to help him with anger management and relationship advice.
She added: “With some reluctance, I am going to suspend your sentence for two years.”
As well as a 14-month prison sentence – suspended – the judge also imposed a rehabilitation requirement of 15 days.
Judge Laing ordered him to pay £800 compensation to Mr King and imposed a restraining order lasting five years and told him that if he breached it, he could be jailed for up to five years.
