A VIOLENT thug grabbed a good Samaritan in a headlock and repeatedly punched him in the face breaking his jaw in several places.

Benjamin Williams, 41, turned on the innocent victim who had asked if the defendant's partner was okay during a blazing row in Lodge Road, Southampton.

The man was concerned at how aggressive Williams was being to his partner.

She said she was fine but Williams became “aggressive and confrontational towards” the victim, squaring up to him and asking him what it had to do with him.

The woman stood in between the pair, but Williams, 41, punched his girlfriend in the head when he tried to swing a punch at the man.

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The passer-by then said he wanted to leave, but Williams said he now had a problem with him and punched him.

Williams knocked him to the floor and backed him into a doorway before getting him in a headlock. He then repeatedly punched him in the head.

The man suffered two fractures to his jaw and a fracture to his cheekbone. He needed surgery to put in a metal plate.

He was released from hospital after two days but has since been diagnosed with anxiety and is suffering from nightmares and poor sleep.

In a statement read out in court, it was said that he suffered “a loss of confidence” and “was afraid of going out alone”.

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His work has also suffered and he does not want to go near Lodge Road.

Williams was arrested after the incident on August 6 last year, and admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and common assault.

He also admitted a charge of possessing a bladed article in public after an incident in January this year where he attempted to end his own life.

He was found not guilty by a jury of aggravated burglary in an allegation relating to the same day.

The judge, Recorder Richard Mawhinney, said: “The actions of the victim were akin to somebody providing a service to the public."

Jailing Williams for 27 months, he said it was a “prolonged and consistent assault” causing “ongoing psychological injury”.

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Mitigating, Oliver Foy said Williams had caused “no real injury” to his partner and had been “upset that (the victim) was involving himself in business he has nothing to do with”.

He said the victim could have walked away from the incident after he was told Williams’ partner was okay but did not.

An order was made for forfeiture and destruction of the knife.