A HAMPSHIRE man left his victim with a fractured jaw after attacking him during a crime of passion, a court heard.

Jared McCants stomped on another man's head and kicked at his body.

"It was lucky he was not brain-damaged or killed," warned a crown court judge.

Prosecution barrister, Richard Martin told how there was a considerable amount of blood following the attack at a flat in Bell Street, Romsey.

He said that the victim was left with swelling around his eyes and a fractured lower jaw which was fixed with plates.

Jared McCants

Jared McCants

The court heard how the man was in hospital for about five days.

Mr Martin added: "The defendant says this is related to the belief his partner was cheating on him."

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, McCants, 25, of Rumbridge Gardens, Totton, was charged with GBH.

The scaffolder was also charged with ABH for biting his now former partner.

He pleaded guilty to the attacks which happened on separate occasions in July this year.

Defending, Khalid Missouri stressed that his client had no recent convictions and had a positive side to his character.

Calling it an "exceptional case" he said that McCants was "faced with a situation where he had been betrayed".

Jared McCants attacked his victim at a flat in Bell Street in Romsey.

Jared McCants attacked his victim at a flat in Bell Street in Romsey.

When passing the sentence, Judge Gary Burrell QC said, "the French might say this was a crime of passion".

He said the defendant came upon his now former partner in a "compromising position" and "lost control".

Judge Burrell added: "You were provoked by what you saw."

Regardless, he scolded him saying the "attack on your partner's lover" caused a "very serious injury on someone who was not offering violence".

However, he said there was a good prospect of rehabilitation and mentioned that McCants had been assessed as a low risk of further offending by probation services.

McCants was jailed for two years, however, the sentence was suspended for two years.

He must complete 32 building better relationship sessions and up to 20 rehabilitation activity days.

Furthermore, he must also pay his victim £750 in compensation.