A MAN “battered” his long-term friend on his birthday leaving him with a permanent disfigurement in a “prolonged attack”, before throwing a fire extinguisher through a car window.

Anthony James Rogers, 32, of Mansfield Road, Poole, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and one count of criminal damage.

He appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court for sentencing.

Prosecuting, Richard Martin told the court Rogers and the victim, James Clarke, had known each other since the age of four.

On September 4, 2019, the victim’s birthday, the pair had spent the day drinking together before heading to Mr Clarke’s address in Parkstone.

Mr Martin said: “The victim described himself as being relaxed drunk, there was a chilled-out mood.

“At about 10 or 11pm things became a daze for the victim. The next thing he remembers was being in the communal hallway of the flats facing the front communal doorway.

“He recalls being hit, hearing a big crack sound, he was hit to the left side of his face. It sounded like he was being punched, that is what is described by one of the neighbours.”

Mr Martin said Mr Clarke, who suffers from Asperger’s, was laid on the floor being punched in the head when neighbour Modi Sissoho came out.

At this stage Rogers told Sissoho to “go **** himself” and said he would “**** everyone in the building”.

The defendant then took a fire extinguisher and left the building, damaging Mr Sissoho’s car before throwing the extinguisher through the window.

Mr Sissoso apprehended Rogers until the police arrived and was awarded a Sheriffs’ Award for his bravery.

Mr Clarke suffered a fractured eye socket and cheek bone and a broken nose.

The court heard how he was told he required surgery and had a permanent disfigurement.

Mr Martin, reading Mr Clarke’s victim impact statement, said the victim “doesn’t feel safe” when he leaves his house and is “always looking over his shoulder worried [Rogers] will attack him again”.

Rogers had nine previous convictions from 12 offences, including two batteries.

Mitigating, Kevin Hill said the defendant was remorseful and was in “disbelief about what happened”.

He said the case was one which could be suspended given the “good progress” the defendant had made since the offence.

However, Judge Robert Pawson sentenced Rogers to three years and three months imprisonment for the attack, and one week for the criminal damage, to be served concurrently.

Judge Pawson said: “You set about Mr Clarke, a longstanding friend of yours, with your fists and over the course of several minutes you battered him.

“You repeatedly hit him on the floor. The impact on the victim has been quite substantial, he feels overwhelmed by what’s happened to him.

“He has struggled ever since from permanent disfigurement, his vision is getting worse, and he needs further surgery.

“I have got no doubt whatsoever that this was a prolonged attack, it went on over several minutes with multiple blows to his head.

“He was very vulnerable, he was lying on the ground, drunk and he suffers from Asperger’s.”

A restraining order was also put in place prohibiting Rogers from contacting Mr Clarke for ten years.