AN AFGHANISTAN war veteran smashed his way into his ex-girlfriend’s house and brutally attacked her new partner in a fit of jealous rage.

Chad Richards punched Ellis Lawrence before stamping on his head during the shocking assault in Ebbw Vale last summer.

Newport Crown Court heard how the victim fears for his life because he is afraid the former soldier will attack him again.

Lowri Patterson, prosecuting, said Richards had turned up at his former partner’s house during the early hours of the morning of August 23, 2020.

He had tried to break into the home and damaged Mr Lawrence’s car before he returned to the property at 7am.

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Miss Paterson told the court: “The defendant kept ringing the doorbell before he smashed a pane of glass and got into the house.

“He was shouting, ‘Where is he? I will f****** kill you!

“The defendant went upstairs and threw Mr Lawrence into the bathroom sink and punched him to the face before stamping on his head and body.”

She added how concerned neighbours entered the scene and Richards fled before the police arrived.

You let yourself go out of jealousy and spite

Mr Lawrence’s injuries included a wound to his left earlobe and bruising to his forehead.

Miss Patterson read his victim impact statement which said: “I am fearful he will attack me again and I fear he won’t stop in the future and will kill me.”

Richards, 31, of Rocky Road, Penydarren, Merthyr Tydfil, pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The defendant had one previous conviction for drink driving in 2009.

Rhys Rosser, mitigating, asked for his client’s guilty plea and lack of previous convictions to be taken into consideration.

He said the defendant, a father of twins, served in the armed forces and had completed a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

His barrister added: “There is a low prospect of reoffending.

“He feels remorse and shame for his actions and it was out of character.”

Judge Jeremy Jenkins told the defendant: “On August 23, 2020, you were making a thorough nuisance of yourself before you left the scene.

“You wanted to exact some sort of revenge on Ellis Lawrence and you returned.

“You hammered at the door and smashed your way in, quite literally.

“You said you wanted to kill Mr Lawrence and launched a completely unprovoked and sustained attack upon him in which you kicked and stamped on him on a number of occasions.”

The judge added: “You have written a letter to me to say, quite rightly, that you are thoroughly and properly ashamed of yourself.

“You have served your country and were used to discipline but you let yourself go out of jealousy and spite.”

Richards was jailed for two years, suspended for two years.

He was ordered to complete 29 sessions of a building better relationships programme and carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

The defendant was made the subject of a five-year restraining order not to contact Mr Lawrence or Richards’ ex-girlfriend.

He must also pay £720 costs and a victim surcharge.