A BITTER ex-boyfriend is facing a potential lengthy jail sentence for a metal bar attack on a man he found sleeping in his former girlfriend’s bed.

Josh Rutherford burst into the woman’s house, in Blackhill, Consett, when she answered the door to him, at 8am on July 9 last year.

Durham Crown Court heard that he confronted the other man in the bedroom, and struck him about the head, leaving long scar wounds, as his ex-girlfriend tried to intervene.

She suffered bruising to her arm, body and neck in trying to deter Rutherford.

Appearing at a plea hearing in the case, 25-year-old Rutherford, of Rushcliffe, Sunderland, admitted aggravated burglary, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, causing actual bodily harm to his former girlfriend and possessing an offensive weapon.

After his pleas were taken, Alex Burns, for Rutherford, told the court: “Until a moment ago he was a man of good character.

“It’s a very sad case, and the guidelines for sentence are very severe for this type of offending. He knows that.”

Mr Burns said his client was in work and handed references to the court on his behalf, but he added that there were further character testimonials he wanted to present at the sentencing hearing.

Recorder Ian Atherton adjourned the case to enable background reports to be drawn up by the Probation Service prior to sentence, on February 23.

Bailing Rutherford, he told him: “You have to accept this is going to be a prison sentence, and, the only question is how long.”