A FORMER soldier who throttled his father-in-law before punching and kicking him on the ground was last night starting a 21-month prison sentence.

Stephen Dickinson was told by a judge that his attack from behind was "cowardly and unprovoked" and has left his victim with permanent problems.

David Jennings suffered a broken nose and fractured eye socket, multiple cuts to his face, swelling around both eyes, and sore ribs and jaw.

Teesside Crown Court heard how he still has double-vision in one eye – a year on from the beating – wakes up every night sweating and has flashbacks.

In a victim impact statement read to the court yesterday, the painter and decorator said he suffers from dizzy spells which are affecting his work.

And he said he can still hear 34-year-old Dickinson's voice in his head shouting "die bastard, die" as he was getting the bloody pummelling on the floor.

The court was told that Dickinson – now a physical training instructor with the Army reserves – is "quite rightly disgusted with his behaviour".

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, told him: "In many ways, it is a great sadness to see you in the dock facing this charge.

"You are a man who has a very positive side to your character. You are married, you have been looking after your children and you have served your country.

"On the other hand, what you did that night was completely, completely without justification. It was a cowardly attack and a sustained attack."

The court heard that Mr Jennings had been staying with his daughter Michaela and her husband Dickinson at their home because of problems at his own.

On July 4 last year, the couple had been arguing in the car outside and Mr Jennings told Dickinson to go and stay with his family for the night.

He returned to pick up a phone charger, and is said to have grabbed his father-in-law by the throat and put his hand over his mouth before attacking him.

Rachel Dyson, mitigating, told the judge: "He is quite rightly disgusted with his behaviour, frustrated with himself for reacting in that fashion.

"Mr Dickinson would say there was some provocation, in that Mr Jennings would not allow him to get back into his own house and was making derogatory comments."

Dickinson, of Galloway Sands, Middlesbrough, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.