A FARMER who was furious with his daughter's then partner cornered the man in a field and attacked him.

'Hot-headed' Lamplugh man Gordon Miller, 47, unhappy with how the relationship had gone between his daughter and Kurt Hewitson, subjected him to a barrage of punches, continuing the violence even after his victim fell to the ground.

He then stamped on and kicked Mr Hewitson, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

A short time later, Miller told Mr Hewitson's colleague: "I've given him a good hiding," adding that he could guarantee Mr Hewitson would not be at work the following day.

The defendant, who lives on a farm at Lamplugh, on the Frizington to Copeland boundary, admitted causing grievous bodily harm.

He was given a suspended ten-month jail term.

Kim Whittlestone, prosecuting, described how Miller drove on his quad bike to the field where Mr Hewitson was working on August 9.

After seeing Miller arrive there, Mr Hewitson got off his tractor and told the defendant he did not want to fight.

"But the defendant immediately began punching the [victim] in the face," said Miss Whittlestone.

"The complainant fell over and the defendant carried on hitting him in the face repeatedly.

"When he tried to move away, he hit him in the ribs and also stamped on his back and kicked him."

Miller then left, leaving Mr Hewitson sprawled on the ground.

After driving his tractor back to the farm, the victim was again confronted by Miller, who asked him: "Do you want to fight?"

Mr Hewitson declined.

He then drove himself to West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven, where doctors diagnosed fractures to his nose and an eye socket bone.

When interviewed, Miller said he had wanted to speak to Mr Hewitson about his relationship with his daughter.

He admitted punching him six times and kicking his back.

"The defendant appeared to be under the influence of alcohol at the time," added Miss Whittlestone.

In his victim statement, Mr Hewitson said his recovery had taken months.

His eye socket injury left him with limited vision.

He was off work for a month.

Judge Nicholas Barker told Miller: "This was an unpleasant, violent assault.

"Kurt Hewitson described it as sustained, with numerous punches... You were in a highly emotional state because of concern for your daughter."

The judge questioned why Miller, at his age, thought it appropriate to vent his anger using his fists as if he were a teenager.

Judge Barker suspended the ten-month jail term he imposed for two years and said Miller must do 180 hours of unpaid work and a thinking skills course.

He must also pay his victim £3,600 in compensation.

The judge imposed a restraining order banning any contact with the victim for two years.