A 20-year-old man who attacked a love rival with a metal baton on the doorstep of his home and then sent him a threatening text message, has been jailed.

Michael Carrick was upset after his friend began texting his former girlfriend, who he had recently broken up with.

Teesside Crown Court was told that Carrick drank a litre of vodka before going to the home of his friend, Carl Fagan, on September 17 and confronting him on the doorstep.

He attacked Mr Fagan with a baton, beating him on the shoulders, neck and back.

Rupert Boswell, prosecuting, said the following day the defendant sent a text message warning that he would finish off his victim if he called the police.

Shaun Dryden, for Carrick, of Baronport Green, Stockton, said he had been devastated when he had broken up with his first love.

After the relationship of four months ended, he had her mobile phone and saw the texts from Mr Fagan asking her if she wanted to go for a pizza.

Mr Dryden said: "He was interested in starting a relationship with the defendant's ex-girlfriend.

"The defendant regarded him as a friend. It is a case of two young men falling out over a girl."

Jailing him for nine months for affray and threatening behaviour, Judge Peter Fox said: "I have taken into account you were only 19 at time of the offence. You were upset at losing your girlfriend, but it happens to everyone.

"This was serious behaviour."