A FORMER guard for the Queen tricked his way into the home of his former partner and beat up her new boyfriend as he lay asleep in bed.

Afghanistan veteran Ben Thompson rained blows onto Arron Brown before leaving the house, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Thompson, 29, had been unable to accept the end of the long-term relationship with Emily Hamilton and tracked her down to the house in Upper Northam Road, Hedge End, on April 13.

When Mr Brown’s 75-year-old grandfather opened the door Thompson said his name was ‘Alex’ before finding the bedroom and launching the attack which left Mr Brown with two black eyes, said Simon Edwards, prosecuting.

Miss Hamilton, of Colden Common, told police: “I remember it was dark and someone was leaning over me and jumped on to Arron. I didn’t realise who it was at first.

“He had his knees on his arms and was repeatedly punching Arron in the face. Arron couldn’t defend himself.”

Thompson had also smashed Miss Hamilton’s mobile phone when they met by chance in Winchester on March 6 and sent her threatening emails on May 5 in which he said he would beat Mr Brown “to a pulp.”

Thompson, of Drayton Street, Stanmore, Winchester, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage and sending malicious communications.

The 29-year-old grew up in Winchester with his father and brother and joined the Army after Kings’ School.

He had served with the Royal Engineers and performed royal guard duties at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Tower of London.

He was jailed for 25 months and ordered on release to pay £1,500 compensation to Mr Brown.

Robert Forrest, mitigating, conceded: “This was a deeply unpleasant string of offences culminating in the assault on Mr Brown. Anyone tricking their way into someone’s house, beating them up when asleep in bed, on the face of it deserves to go to prison.”

But Mr Forrest said Thompson had served nine years in the Royal Engineers from 2006 to 2015 including two tours of Afghanistan in which he had worked as a medic and in bomb disposal.

He was suffering post-traumatic stress disorder and was clinically depressed. Mr Forrest said Thompson was an angry and aggressive person but that the Army had controlled that temperament.

Thompson and Miss Hamilton had been together for several years, with a break in 2011-13 and had got engaged in 2014 before it collapsed for good last year.

Sentencing, Judge Keith Cutler, Recorder of Winchester, said Thompson has shown no remorse and had sent the aggressive emails less than a month later.

“You are a jealous man quite incapable of controlling your own emotions, someone who is dangerous to others and dangerous to yourself.”

The judge jailed him for 18 months for the assault, six months for the emails and one month for the criminal damage, or 25 months in total.

He also imposed a restraining order barring any contact with Miss Hamilton or Mr Brown for ten years.