A MAN who threw a vacuum cleaner at a friend's head ended up in court for inflicting actual bodily harm.

Michael Stimson, 36, of Hythe, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage and possession of cannabis and appeared before Isle of Wight Crown Court for sentencing on Friday.

The offending put him in breach of a previous suspended sentence.

Prosecuting, Kaj Scarsbrook told the court that Stimson had been at a friend's house in Freshwater and suddenly became violent after receiving a phone call from his girlfriend.

Stimson accused his friend, Benjamin Weeks, of sleeping with his girlfriend and approached him holding a knife with a vacant stare in his eyes, Mr Scarsbrook told the court.

During a heated exchange, which involved Stimson damaging various of bits of property with the knife, Stimson picked up a vacuum cleaner and threw it at Mr Weeks' head.

When he was later arrested, he was found with a small amount of cannabis.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Weeks said: "I was scared by this. I am a robust person. I have seen plenty of violence in the past, but never before have I been scared for my life or thought that I might never see my little boy again."

For Stimson, Edward Warren said his client was a commercial fisherman and has made steps to turn his life around since the offence.

Judge David Melville said: "You had a bad telephone call that switched you from being a genial companion to violent.

"Mr Weeks feared for his life."

Stimson was sentenced to one year suspended for two years with 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also fined £250 for the possession of cannabis and £100 for breaching his suspended sentence. He will also have to pay £425 court costs.

Judge Melville said: "If you commit any other offences, your chances will have run out. You will be straight inside. No one is going to give you any more mercy.