A jealous boyfriend who broke the arm and dislocated the jaw of a man he spotted kissing his girlfriend at their Whitchurch home has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Joshua Parsons flew into a violent rage when he saw the stranger giving his partner a kiss and rained blows at his body, knocking him unconscious. When police arrived at the scene the defendant told them he had given victim, Andrew Rush, a "shoeing" because of the kiss.

The mechanical apprentice, 24, of St Marks Road, Burnham-on-Sea, admitted a single charge of grievous bodily harm with intent.

Anna Vigars, prosecuting at Bristol Crown Court, told how Parsons flew into a jealous rage in the early hours of June 28 this year.

She said Parsons and his girlfriend, Amy Newman, had gone to a retirement party in Keynsham that evening but Ms Newman left early and went to a pub in Whitchurch. The court heard how Ms Newman ended up bumping into Mr Rush in Whitchurch.

Mrs Vigars said Mr Rush had been at Parsons' and Ms Newman's home when the defendant returned and saw his victim kissing his girlfriend.

She added: "Mr Rush tried to kiss Ms Newman and said she was not interested and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. The defendant came home and saw what happened.

"Parsons repeatedly punched Mr Rush to the head and face. He was shouting at Ms Newman to call the police because he was going to kill Mr Rush."

Robert Duval, defending, said his client had been in a relationship with Ms Newman for seven-and-a-half years and she had been his first and only true love.

He said there had been difficulties in the couple's relationship which Parsons thought had been resolved.

Jailing Parsons for two-and-a-half years, Judge Michael Roach said: "It was a savage attack. I accept from all I have read, you are a decent young man. No one can excuse what you did. The law requires me to send you to prison. I'm afraid I must do that."