A man tossed 15ft from a bridge into icy water got revenge on one his rivals by sneaking into a house and repeatedly hitting him.

Dael Carter screamed “I’ll kill you” as he rained the vodka bottle over sleeping Oliver Herbert’s head before smashing up the living room.

The 37-year-old’s revenge attack came after he was ambushed, beaten, and narrowly escaped drowning after being thrown into Hythe’s Royal Military Canal.

A judge suspended a prison sentence at Canterbury Crown Court after being “satisfied” it only occurred because of the earlier attack on Carter.

But Judge Rupert Lowe added: “(Your victim) was totally defenceless.

“You carried out that revenge attack hitting him more than once with the bottle - telling him you were going to kill him."

Carter was walking to a shop when three men pulled up in a car on December 5 - he identified them to police as Christian Richmond, Mr Herbert and a third suspect.

He was chased onto a bridge over Hythe’s Royal Military Canal where he was beaten, before Richmond launched him over the railings 15ft above the water.

Richmond and his pals drove away without seeking to assist Carter.

“And with that very serious assault, you could have drowned if things went differently,” Judge Lowe explained.

The judge added he “could not exclude that Mr Herbert participated in the attack,” following a previous hearing.

After suffering minor injuries Carter called the police and hatched a plan to seek revenge. Richmond was cautioned over the attack.

“Mr Richmond was arrested and you knew that, but in a state of anger you enquired and found out where he lived, and went round there taking with you a vodka bottle,” the judge continued.

“You then set about taking revenge for the attack by breaking the windows on his car.”

The court heard Carter then crept into an open door of the property, where he found Mr Herbert – who had been left to look after the house – under a blanket on the sofa.

“Still holding the vodka bottle you viciously attacked this man who was half asleep on the sofa under a blanket.

“He was totally defenceless and you carried out that revenge attack hitting him more than once with the bottle and with your fist, damaging the room, including the mirror and throwing a bottle of wine against the wall, telling him that you were going to kill him.”

The court heard Mr Herbert sustained cuts to his cheek and wrists, with a forehead wound requiring surgical glue.

Carter initially denied the attack and was found guilty of criminal damage and actual bodily harm on a full basis following a trial of issue at the same court earlier this year.

Judge Lowe suspended a 21-month prison sentence after being convinced Carter, of previous good character, would not have carried out the assault had he “not been seriously and dangerously assaulted earlier that day.”

Carter was also handed 150 hours unpaid work, ordered to compensate Mr Herbert and Richmond £500 each, alongside a two-year restraining order to contact the pair unless for restorative justice.

His barrister said Carter “accepted responsibility” and was “extremely remorseful” for the assault.

Carter last year told KentOnline he "feared for his life" after hitting the water.

The former salesman explained he was punched in the head and kicked all over his body before being thrown from the bridge into the canal.

“I thought I was going to die that night.

"I feared for my life as I was punched and kicked over 10 times before being thrown from a 15ft bridge into an icy cold canal.

"I was semi-conscious when I went into the water.

"I had been holding on to the railings trying to stop them throwing me in. Because of this, they had been hitting and punching me and I couldn't use my hands to defend myself.

"They were shouting 'get him in the canal'.

"I was fully clothed when I went in the water and I had to swim to the edge. I don't swim well and it was icy cold.

"I really feared for my life."

Carter, of Chapel Street in Hythe suffered minor injuries, the court heard.

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