More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A man went to settle an argument over a woman with a punch-up but instead attacked him with a wrench.
Victim Christopher Belfrey accepted the challenge to meet as long as neither was "tooled up".
But thug Harry Mansfield, 22, accompanied by a friend, lured him to a park in Tonbridge after secretly arming himself with a Samurai sword and a heavy-duty wrench, Maidstone Crown Court heard.
Mr Belfrey then suffered "horrific violence" after he was hit several times with the wrench.
Now Mansfield, of no fixed address, has been jailed for three years and nine months after admitting wounding with intent, assault and possessing offensive weapons.
The judge, Recorder David Jeremy QC, told him: "You are uncontrollable when in a temper. This was a planned and premeditated act of vengeance and you lured him into a trap.
"Your victim was expecting a fistfight but you used a wrench to strike him as hard as you could – a blow which could have easily killed him."
'It would appear that Mansfield had views about the relationship which resulted in extreme tensions between him and Mr Belfrey...'
Mansfield's sidekick, Callum Found, 18, of Wilson Road, Tonbridge, escaped with an 18-month community order after the prosecution dropped a more serious charge and accepted a guilty plea to possessing an offensive weapon.
He was also ordered to do 60 hours of unpaid work for the community.
Prosecutor Gino Connor said that in December last year the 25-year-old victim was in a relationship with a woman who had allowed Mansfield to lodge at her home.
He added: "It would appear that Mansfield had views about the relationship which resulted in extreme tensions between him and Mr Belfrey."
On December 10, Mansfield confronted the victim saying "Let's sort this out". The victim said he didn't want to fight but was twice punched to the head, causing a cut to the bridge of his nose and a "bloody" right ear.
Mr Connor added the following day the two men clashed again "by video" after Mansfield was alleged to have taken Mr Belfrey's wallet.
Mansfield sent two video clips to his rival – the first one showing him bare-chested and threatening: "When I do see you I am going to **** you up this time."
The prosecutor added that a second video was sent three hours later offering Mr Belfrey a "one-to-one" fight.
Mr Connor said that the next day, Mansfield sent another video asking where his rival was.
He said: "Mr Belfrey wanted to retrieve his wallet and credit card despite Mansfield threatening: 'I am going to smash your head in. We will sort this out on a one-on-one.'
"Mr Belfrey replied 'No tools involved' and agreed to meet up on a footpath near Tonbridge Park, arriving at about 10am."
Minutes later Mansfield turned up with Found and then produced a Samurai sword, pointed it at Mr Belfrey and taunted: "What are you going to do now?"
The court heard how Mansfield then turned to his pal and retrieved "a large adjustable wrench".
The prosecutor told how Mansfield then punched Mr Belfrey in the face before hitting him on the arm with the wrench and then struck another blow to his hip.
"The third blow was one to Mr Belfrey's head with the wrench which Mansfield raised above his head before striking with considerable force, causing a deep laceration and dizziness," Mr Connor said.
"Mr Belfrey fell to the floor and may have lost consciousness but not before he heard Mansfield say: 'What are you going to do now?' Then the two men ran off, crossing a stream," he added.
Mr Belfrey was later treated in hospital after Mansfield and a shoeless Found had been arrested when officers threatened to Taser them.
The officers found the sword, wrench and a pair of shoes which had been stashed in a nearby bush.
Harry Laidlaw, defending Mansfield, said the woman at the centre of the row was "like a sister to him" and he was "extremely protective" towards her.
He said Mansfield heard a rumour that Mr Belfrey was not treating her particularly well, adding: "This, in no way, justifies his actions nor excuses what he did."
Mansfield went into a "prolonged rage" and "lost his head" the barrister added.
For information on how we can report on court proceedings, click here.
