A man who broke into his ex-girlfriend's home and inflicted "permanent and irreversible" injuries on her new partner has been jailed.

Benjamin Tebay, 35, broke into his ex-partner’s home on Ulundi Street in Radcliffe in the early hours of February 5 where he stabbed Liam Barber in the face, neck and ribs.

At a trial heard at Manchester Crown Court in July, Tebay was found not guilty of attempted murder.

But he was sentenced at a hearing on Friday, September 8 after pleading guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in May.

Nicolas Clarke, prosecuting, told the court that Tebay had inflicted a stab wound to Mr Barber’s face with a carving knife after discovering him in the house with his ex-partner.

During the trial, the court heard that Tebay had broken into the house while drunk as he suspected she was with another man. Days earlier, Tebay had sent a series of voicemails to his ex-partner, with whom he has one child, in which he threatened to kill her.

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At the sentencing hearing, Mr Clarke told the court that “the injuries cause to Liam Barber are permanent and irreversible” but conceded that they “do not affect his ability to perform every day activities or to work".

Rachel Shenton, defending, said the behaviour displayed by Tebay on February 5 was “wholly out of character” and occurred after “a significant decline in his mental health.”

She said: “He has expressed the greatest remorse.

“This is a man who has behaved in a wholly out of character way. He is a hard working man, he is an excellent father to his son.

“Both he and (his ex-partner) will find a way to co-parent, she has allowed their son to be brought into custody (to see his father).”

She added that Tebay had made the most of his time in custody, enrolling on vocational courses and programmes to help him change his behaviour and action.

She said Tebay had been baptised while in prison.

Concluding the hearing, Judge Nicholas Dean KC sentenced Tebay to six years in prison. He added that his ex-partner and Mr Barber were "blameless" for the incident.

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He acknowledged that Tebay’s ex-partner had spoken of the loving relationship he has with his son.

He said: “(Tebay’s ex-partner) is completely blameless for the events of the night of February 6 this year.

“Those who have held her responsible in some way, shape or form should feel a sense of shame.

“Liam Barber will be left for the rest of his life with the mark of what you did.

"Liam Barber is totally blameless but he is the one who will be left with the mark of what you did.”