A MAN who threw a love rival against a wall so hard his victim almost lost his eyesight has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Ashley Crane, 19, was captured on CCTV punching Robbie Halkins, 18, several times in the stomach and face before throwing him against a brick wall.

The fight was in an alleyway off Bolton Road and Market Place in Banbury on August 7 last year.

Crane, of School View, Banbury, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm in Oxford Crown Court and was sentenced on last week.

Joanne Berry, prosecuting, said there was “bad blood" between the pair because of an argument over a girlfriend.

She said Mr Halkins had been working at the nearby Age UK charity shop when Crane shouted at him and later attacked him.

Mr Halkins was taken first to the Horton General Hospital in Banbury and then the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, the judge heard.

He had six fractures on the left of his face, bleeding behind his left eye, bruising, swelling and cuts to the lip.

Miss Berry read out a victim impact statement which said: “The doctors told me I might lose my left eye or my sight. It was frightening to hear how badly injured I was. My eye didn’t open until five days later and my vision is slowly returning.”

Crane has already served six months in custody since August.

Peter Du Feu, defending, said it was “obvious” that Mr Halkins’s “awful injuries” came after he was “flung into the wall”.

He said Crane’s time in prison had changed him: “Those who have dealt with him say he has matured significantly. He doesn’t like the person he looks back and sees.”

Speaking to Crane over a video link Judge Peter Ross said: “This was a vicious assault; you were hugely aggressive throughout."

He sentenced Crane to 20 months in jail, suspended for two years. He also imposed a two-year supervision order, told Crane to do 200 hours' unpaid work, a restorative justice course and pay £600 compensation to Mr Halkins.

He said: “I will do something constructive with you. But if you breach this order you will go back to custody.”

Det Con Mark Personius said: “Thames Valley Police will not tolerate violence in our community and I am pleased that Crane is being held accountable for his actions.”

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