A jilted husband travelled 350 miles to attack his wife's former boyfriend after discovering they had rekindled their romance through Facebook.
Stephen Henshaw was incensed that his wife Tammy got back in touch with her old flame Jake Hamon through the social networking site.
The 39-year-old estate agent travelled to the tiny Channel Island of Alderney and attacked Mr Hamon as he worked in the harbour.
It is just the latest example of how the opportunity presented by websites such as Friends Reunited and Facebook to put people in touch with long-lost friends can backfire.
Mrs Henshaw, a 35-year-old mother of two, exchanged emails, texts and phone calls with Mr Hamon – who has a wife and two young children – after they contacted each other online.
At the start of the month she informed her husband of six years that she was leaving their Lancashire home and moving to Alderney to be with her childhood sweetheart.
On May 2, Henshaw flew from Manchester to Guernsey before travelling to the island, a court on Alderney heard.
"The defendant used his fists to strike Mr Hamon in the head, causing him to fall to the floor," said Paul Yabsley, prosecuting.
"As Mr Hamon was getting up, the defendant kicked him.
"This caused Mr Hamon to fall to the floor again, after which he was kicked in the back for a second time."
The battered victim pleaded with Henshaw to stop, telling him he had "got the wrong man".
The attacker left the harbour and was arrested soon afterwards.
Mr Hamon, a 37-year-old welder, needed eight stitches in his mouth, suffered bruising under his left eye and a scalp injury, as well as having part of his jawbone exposed.
Julia White, mitigating, said Henshaw had not travelled to Alderney for a fight.
"This incident is due to the culmination of many traumatic and stressful events. Since my client's wife has made contact with Mr Hamon, she has visited Alderney and subsequently returned to say their marriage is over.
"This decision left my client feeling he has nothing to live for, as he recently lost his job as a result of taking time off work to care for the children while his wife was in Alderney."
Henshaw, who pleaded guilty to unlawful and malicious wounding, was sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for three years – enabling him to return home to the family home in Goosnargh, a village near Preston.
His wife is still said to be considering a move to Alderney with their two children, aged eight and three.
She said yesterday: "Before this, my husband's behaviour was impeccable.
"It was totally out of character for him."
Mr Hamon said he was pleased his love rival had not been jailed.
"He shouldn't have gone to prison because he's a dad," he added.
"Even if he'd put me in a wheelchair I wouldn't have wanted him to go to prison.
"It is not for me to say what will happen now. A lot of things still need to be sorted out."
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