A BRUTAL thug with a long history of serious violence viciously attacked a peacemaker during an ugly street confrontation – leaving him with a broken nose and a broken eye socket.
He also attacked another man after they both tried to go to the aid of a woman who was embroiled in an argument with the troublemaker, a court heard.
Matthew Boulter, 25, of Thomas Street, Grimsby, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on Michael Cook, assaulting Gary Cumberland and breaching his antisocial behaviour order on December 8.
Phillip Evans, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Mr Cook and Mr Cumberland intervened after spotting Boulter and his girlfriend arguing in the town centre at about 1am.
Boulter punched Mr Cook in the face with a clenched fist, leaving him with a broken nose and a broken eye socket.
Mr Cumberland became involved and Boulter punched him in the head, causing him to fall to the pavement. Boulter hit him on the back of the head while he tried to cover his face and punched him on the nose as he tried to protect himself.
Katya Soadek, mitigating, said serious injuries were caused and Boulter admitted using "over-the-top self- defence" after Mr Cook got between him and Boulter's girlfriend, Katie Webster, during an argument.
The two men were trying to protect Miss Webster and Boulter misjudged the situation. Boulter claimed he "felt terrible" about the incident afterwards and "broke down in tears" at the scene when he realised how serious the injuries were.
He claimed Mr Cumberland threw a punch at the same time as he did, but admitted it was "over-the-top" to throw two more.
"He did not mean to cause the level of harm he did and feels very bad about it," said Miss Saudek.
Judge David Tremberg told Boulter: "You have a shocking record for offences of violence. You have been causing physical damage to people since you were in your mid-teens.
"Practically everything has been tried with you to try to turn you away from violence. Nothing has worked. You were quick to use violence – and significant violence at that.
"It's time for you to grow out of this violence."
Boulter, a pallet technician, was jailed for 18 months.
