A FIREMAN from Hatfield Broad Oak who beat up a work colleague he found in his girlfriend’s bed has been given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months with 18 months' supervision.
Richard Broughton, 32, was also ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work. He must also pay £1,000 compensation to the victim, James Rhodes-Windsor and £1,000 costs.
The defendant, who previously lived in Hertford, but now lives in the village, smashed a window to clamber into Angela Barr's home - where he saw her in her nightwear and found Mr Rhodes-Windsor in his boxer shorts.
Both denied anything sexual had happened, but Broughton launched a sustained attack and Mr Rhodes-Windsor, who lives in Stevenage, suffered injuries to his face, a chipped tooth, bruising to the back and glass in his foot.
The jury of six men and six women at St Albans Crown Court found shaven-headed Broughton guilty of causing actual bodily harm. Last year a jury failed to reach a verdict.
Prosecutor Derek Zeitlin said all three worked for the fire service in Herts. At about 2.30 in the morning of December 17, 2010, after a Christmas party, Broughton broke in.
Following the fracas neighbours raised the alarm and as the police arrested Broughton, he allegedly shouted: "Thanks a lot Angie. Thanks for sleeping with someone else."
In a Victim Impact Statement Mr Rhodes-Windsor said he had received a severe beating and still suffered emotional upset a year after the attack, which has left him feeling uneasy.
Defence barrister Terence Woods said Broughton now has a new partner and child.
He said: “He was confronted with a situation he did not expect to find and reacted in a way that was out of character.”
His position with the fire service is to be reviewed.
