A JEALOUS Dudley thug brutally attacked a man because he thought his victim was his partner’s lover.

Builder Richard Aston left the man nursing a fractured cheekbone after he punched and kicked him in the face.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge Peter Barrie told 58-year-old Aston that "whatever the background in terms of personal relationships" it had not justified him carrying out a "determined and sustained attack."

Aston was with an accomplice when they went to the victim's Dudley flat and when he opened the front door he was punched to the floor.

Aston then kicked the man hard in the face before telling him he would be shot if he contacted police.

Alka Brigue, prosecuting, said that in a victim impact statement the victim told police the incident had left him fearful for his safety and he continually felt "anxious and jumpy"

Aston, of Vicarage Prospect, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and the judge further made a restraining order forbidding him from having contact with the victim for five years.

Stephen Hamblett, for Aston, who was put behind bars for four years nine months, said his client had gone to the other man's flat because he wanted "to have a few words."

He told the court that Aston accepted he had caused all the injuries including a number of cuts that needed stitches and he was full of remorse for what was an "isolated" incident.

Mrs Brigue said Aston had 24 previous offences on his criminal record including robbery, assault and battery and he had served a number of custodial sentences.