A HUSBAND who attacked the man he “blamed for his wife’s death” has been jailed.

Wayne Patching, of Melrose Walk, Popley, had also attacked the man nearly a year earlier when the victim had two broken heels, beating him with his own crutch.

Patching, 25, appeared at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday last week where he was sentenced to a total of two years behind bars.

The court heard that on February 3 last year, Patching had got into a confrontation with his victim after his wife Samantha had given the man a lift home.

Prosecuting, Victoria Hill told the court the victim was “defenceless” as he had two broken heels, with his feet in boots, and Patching used one of the victims’ crutches as a weapon.

A victim impact statement read by Miss Hill said: “My life has changed psychologically, and I do not go out at night.”

And it said the victim now felt “safer” sleeping in his living room where he had a “clear escape route”.

While on bail awaiting trial for the attack, the court heard a “chance meeting” of the pair in Winchester Street, on February 21 this year, caused Patching, in an “highly emotional state”, to “punch the victim in the face”.

Miss Hill added: “Mr Patching had blamed [the victim] for his wife’s death and this incident happened just four days after she passed.”

The court heard Patching’s wife died on February 17 from anaphylactic shock, though why Patching blamed the victim for Samantha’s death was not made clear.

Defending Patching, Adrienne Knight told the court there was a “clear history” between the victim and the defendant, and the victim was “by no means the retiring violet he is being made out to be.”

Miss Knight added: “[Patching] thought [the victim] was a bad influence on his wife. So his reaction has come from a sense of misguided protection for his wife.”

Referring to a video of the February 21 incident, shown to judge Andrew Barnett, Miss Knight added: “This is not a one-way thing by any means. The victim can clearly be seen heading towards my client in an aggressive manner. “

In sentencing, Judge Barnett said he had empathy for Patching’s loss but added this “did not excuse your actions.”

Patching pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful violence and causing criminal damage and one count of assault causing actual bodily harm at an earlier hearing.

He was sentenced to 20 months for unlawful violence and two months for criminal damage, to run concurrently.

He was also sentenced to four months for causing actual bodily harm to run consecutively with the 20 months term. A five-year restraining order was also issued.