A court heard he made the comment: ‘He said he was going to sleep with my bird so I banged him out’
Macauley Bolder, pictured outside Hull Crown Court(Image: Hull Live)
An aggressive troublemaker repeatedly punched another man in the face during a nasty confrontation in a bedroom – and later confessed: “He was going to sleep with my bird so I banged him out.” Cannabis user Macauley Bolder was “very protective” of his girlfriend – “perhaps too much” – and he angrily lashed out because the potential love rival was allegedly “making a pass” at her, Hull Crown Court heard.
Bolder, 20, of Tison Garth, Anlaby, admitted assaulting the man, causing actual bodily harm, on January 23 last year. He was originally on trial for robbery but he admitted the lesser offence part-way through the case.
Billy Torbett, prosecuting, said that Bolder and the assault victim knew each other from attending sessions of a project in Hull. A woman invited the victim to go to her flat. Others were there.
The man originally declined to go there as he was busy but she asked him again so he decided to go. She let him into the flat and he spoke to those present.
He was asked to go and look around a bedroom to see what changes had been made. A fifth male was also there but he left the bedroom before there was any violence.
On his way out, however, the man made a facial expression to the victim, suggesting that he should leave. The victim understood this to be a warning about what might be about to happen.
There were others in the bedroom with the victim and they were talking among themselves. Without any warning or reason, Bolder hit the victim in the face, landing a number of blows and causing him to fall to the floor.
While the victim was on the floor, Bolder repeatedly hit him again. The victim curled up into a ball to defend himself but he was eventually able to pull himself up off the floor.
“In fear, he ran out of the bedroom and left the address,” said Mr Torbett. The victim suffered a bloody nose and bruises in the face.
“The defendant was arrested the following day and was conveyed to custody,” said Mr Torbett. He made the comment: “I will tell you what happened last night. I banged him. He said he was going to sleep with my bird so I banged him out.”
During police interview, Bolder accepted causing injuries that were consistent with an assault. He had no previous convictions.
Cathy Kioko-Gilligan, mitigating, said that the assault happened because Bolder was “very protective” of his girlfriend – “perhaps too much” – and he hoped to marry her in the near future. “He has taken full responsibility for his actions,” said Miss Kioko-Gilligan.
“He is remorseful. He is turning his life around. He is making those green shoots and those changes now. He has been subject to a curfew for a significant period.”
Judge Alexander Menary said that there had been friction between Bolder and the victim, although they had previously been friendly. The victim made comments about Bolder’s girlfriend and seemed to be “making a pass” at her, the court heard.
“This was something of a premeditated assault,” said Judge Menary. Bolder had gone into the bedroom and put gloves and rings on just before the assault. He struck the victim a number of blows when he came into the bedroom.
“This was a short-lived assault,” said Judge Menary. “It was over relatively quickly. There have been no further incidents.” The victim suffered a bloody nose and unpleasant injuries.
Bolder had admitted using cannabis. “Steer away from ongoing cannabis use,” said Judge Menary. “You must steer away from it if you can. It leads to delusional behaviour and thinking.”
Bolder was given an 18-month community order, with a three-month monitoring order and 20 days’ rehabilitation. “Your primary aim in the next 18 months is to avoid coming back here,” said Judge Menary.
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