AN attacker who left a man with “severe facial injuries” during a fight in Braintree has been spared prison.

Jack Burgess, now of Vicarage Road, Belchamp St Paul, was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent as well as possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

The 25-year-old had admitted the charges before appearing in Chelmsford Crown Court this week for sentencing.

Tim Devlin, prosecuting, told the court Burgess and a then-neighbour had a verbal argument before heading to the courtyard outside their block of flats in Braintree.

He said Burgess armed himself with a baseball bat after the victim had brought a metal pole outside with him.

The court heard how the pair had a fight, with Burgess hitting the victim with the bat in self-defence, but then lashing out and punching the man on the floor.

The victim suffered severe facial injuries, which included a large chunk taken out of his top lip, fractures to the cheekbones and nose, and two missing teeth.

Burgess later called the police to reveal his location as well as the location of the bat, claiming the victim had come to his door and threatened him with the pole.

Simeon Wallis, mitigating, told the court Burgess acknowledged his actions were unwise, and had admitted he went “further than he ever ought to have gone”.

He also told the court Burgess only armed himself after seeing the metal pole.

Burgess, who has since moved from Braintree, was described as “responsible, remorseful, and someone capable of being rehabilitated”.

“It was an unusual and very frightening situation, and under that pressure, he reacted poorly," said Mr Wallis.

Miss Recorder E Isaacs KC said Burgess acted “recklessly”.

Addressing him, she said: “Knowing your partner and child were in your flat, you decided to resolve matters outside the property.

“You armed yourself in response, but what you did was not an acceptable way of managing the situation.

“You should have hidden and phoned the police rather than taking matters into own your hands.”

Burgess was given a suspended sentence of 15 months, suspended for 24 months.

He was also given a rehabilitation activity requirement, 80 hours of unpaid work and banned from going to Braintree for 15 months.