A NEW Forest man narrowly avoided a jail sentence for attacking a man who was with his estranged wife.

Mark Vigrass, 49, had been convicted of causing grievous bodily harm on Anthony Foley, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Vigrass, of Pemberton Road, Lyndhurst, had pushed Mr Foley in the back sending him crashing into the ground and breaking his elbow.

He had seen Mr Foley talking to his estranged wife at the village working men’s club in May 2012, said Jeremy Wright, prosecuting.

The court heard Mr Foley now suffered chronic pain and was unable to fully enjoy his hobby of golf.

Jason Halsey, mitigating for Vigrass, said: “He is from a hard-working family.

“Sending him to prison, although richly deserved, will have consequences. His family will lose their home, his business will collapse and people will lose their jobs.”

He presented a list of references from people that included doctors and a retired policeman.

Sentencing, the judge, Mr Recorder Nigel Lickley QC, said: “I have decided not to send you to prison. But you have come very close to it.”

He imposed a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, ordered Vigrass pay Mr Foley £500 compensation, do 100 hours unpaid work and be under an electronically tagged curfew from 8pm to 6am for three months.

As Vigrass left the dock, the thanked the judge and said he had been “very fair”.