A SOUTHAMPTON man smashed through a balcony wall before repeatedly attacking a neighbour with a plank of wood because they were loudly playing a Wham! hit.

Sam Wickenden was sick of hearing Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go so he broke through a balcony partition that separated his girlfriend’s flat from her neighbours.

He picked up a piece of wood and repeatedly struck victim Jamie Summerton at the address at Canberra Towers in Southampton, leaving him with a broken arm.

Wickenden was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of grievous bodily harm.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the 24-year-old was at his girlfriend’s flat on December 11 last year and was “provoked” by the loud music.

After Mr Summerton refused to turn the songs down, the court was told that Wickenden smashed through the partition, before picking up a piece of wood and repeatedly hitting Mr Summerton, leaving him unable to work for weeks.

In a victim statement read out to the court, Mr Summerton, a father, said: “I was treated at hospital and had a cast removed.

“My partner had to help feed me and put my socks on.

“I used to work in a pub but I cannot do my full duties.

“Fortunately, I have been able to find another job where I work at the bar only.”

A second statement, dated seven months after the incident, added: “My arm aches for long periods, which it didn’t used to do before.

“My five-year-old daughter doesn’t understand that I sometimes can’t do certain things.

“My current boss is very understanding, but if he wasn’t, I wouldn’t have a job.”

Wickenden’s record includes two cases of affray and drunk and disorderly behaviour in the last five years.

Defence barrister Richard Martin said: “He was provoked, and indeed it would seem instead of turning the music down, it was turned up.

“It most certainly didn’t help with one of the songs being Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.

“He seized the wood at the scene, so it was not premeditated or planned.

“Some people can’t handle things in a group situation and he is one of those people.”

Sentencing Wickenden to two years in custody, district circuit judge Peter Ralls said: “You show a lack of empathy and a lack of remorse for what you have done, and the impact has been read to you.

“You are a young man with a history of offences which include offences of a violent nature.”

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go gave Wham! a global hit in 1984, reaching number one in the UK and US.

It was written and produced by the late George Michael.