A CHESTER man has been jailed for a “nasty” attack on a runner he mistakenly believed had smashed his girlfriend’s window.

Ricky Jones, 29, of Earls Port, pleaded guilty to one charge of assault causing grievous bodily harm and another of common assault on Michael Duggins.

Chester Crown Court heard today (Thursday, July 26) that the defendant had been with his partner at around lunchtime on January 23 this year when a window was smashed at the property.

The couple and another friend then hit the streets to find the culprit – and ended up wrongly targeting Mr Duggins who was out on a run.

Jones squared up to him aggressively at which point the victim tried to run away but ended up tripping over and smashing his knee on the kerb.

Jones, who has 30 previous convictions for 78 offences, then stood over him and punched him in the face.

Mr Duggins was taken to hospital and later underwent a two-hour operation on a snapped tendon in his knee, which had to be pinned.

Jailing Jones for 12 months, the judge, Miss Recorder Katherine Pierpoint, said: “Chasing people around the streets of Chester in broad daylight is not behaviour that will be tolerated by this court.

“Clearly you have a problem with your temper and when it manifests itself you find yourself before the courts.

“Punching that man when he was on the floor was nasty, unnecessary and unpleasant.”

A victim impact statement from Mr Duggins stated that he had been left anxious and fearful after his ordeal.

“He has had to move house,” the judge told Jones. “He’s been left feeling paranoid and frightened. He’s been worried about leaving the house and he’s worried about coming across you in the future.”

The court heard Jones has been in and out of prison since he was 15 for a string of offences including assaulting a police officer, affray and causing actual bodily harm (ABH).

Anya Horwood, defending, said Jones had been taking part in a voluntary offenders rehabilitation programme. He was determined to stay out of prison and had rebuilt his relationship with his family.

“It is with a great deal of disappointment that he finds himself before the court again,” the barrister said.

She also stressed that the incident was “not pre-planned or pre-meditated” and was the product of “anger and frustration”.

“He didn’t intend that Mr Duggins would be caused such a nasty injury to his leg,” she said.

Jones must spend half of his sentence in custody and half on licence. However, he has been remanded since his arrest on February 2 meaning he will likely be released soon.

The judge approved a restraining order banning Jones from contacting the victim.

After the hearing, Detective Constable Leanne Abbott, of Chester CID, said: “This was an incredibly intimidating and alarming assault on an innocent man who was simply out jogging.

“Jones put the victim through a terrifying ordeal by displaying threatening behaviour in what was an unprovoked attack."