AN aquarium store boss punched his former lover's new partner in a drunken rage, then kicked him in the face as he lay helpless on the ground.

Paul Skidmore was left with horrific facial injuries after Andy Taylor, aged 35, attacked him following a night of binge drinking.

Bolton Crown Court heard that Taylor, who had been involved in a relationship with Liz Kirkpatrick for more than a year, blamed Mr Skidmore for their split.

Mike Ardern, prosecuting, said Mr Skidmore had been celebrating Miss Kirkpatrick's birthday with two friends in Bolton town centre on January 12.

Taylor saw them in the Bar BL1. He chatted to Miss Kirkpatrick before she, Mr Skidmore and their friends got a taxi back to a relative's house in Campbell Street, Farnworth.

They saw Taylor, who also lives in Campbell Street, and he walked towards them.

In a statement, Mr Skidmore said: "I thought he had come to speak to Liz again, but he suddenly punched me, connecting with my right eye and the bridge of my nose.

"He knocked me to the floor then he kicked me directly in the face so I curled up because I thought he was going to continue the assault."

Mr Skidmore was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital with heavy bleeding from his nose, a severely swollen right eye, a cut above his right eyebrow and grazes around his face.

Taylor, manager of Britain's Aquatic Superstore in Folds Road, Bolton, was arrested and told police he had drunk three-quarters of a bottle of wine, two or three beers and three whiskey and cokes during the evening.

He said he had punched Mr Skidmore in a "flash of anger".

Joanne Tang, defending, said there was "a bit of bad blood" between the two men.

Taylor was given a four-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, 120 hours' community service and an 18-month supervision order to deal with drink and anger management problems.

He must also pay Mr Skidmore £400 in compensation for his injuries and £208 for his loss of earnings.