AN innocent 15-year-old boy who was attacked by a man wielding a broom handle has tried to kill himself since, including attempting to hurl himself off a bridge.

A court heard that the vulnerable victim was assaulted on the very first day he had left his home for two months and has been left feeling paranoid and suffering from flashbacks.

His attacker, James Milligan, who was angry following threats by a mutual friend, admitted causing grievous bodily harm and was jailed on Friday for 21 months.

Judge Sophie McKone told the 33-year-old defendant, who has no previous convictions for violence, that she took into account his own difficult life but said it was too serious an offence to suspend a prison term.

Steven Swift, prosecuting, had told how on May 5 last year Milligan spent the day drinking and during which he fell out with a group of friends.

He armed himself with a broom handle and went to a property in Florence Road, Seacombe on several occasions and threats were exchanged.

Milligan threatened to set the flat on fire and began swearing at the schoolboy who had arrived on the scene by chance.

The father-of-two threatened to “bite his face off” and the boy backed away into the house where the threats and aggression continued culminating in Milligan him him over the head with the broom handle causing a six inch gash.

In an impact statement the boy told how he went to Arrowe Park Hospital for treatment and had stitches inserted in his head wound.

He had also suffered a cracked tooth which he later had to have removed, said Mr Swift.

His hearing in his left ear had been affected and he became paranoid that someone was going to attack him again and he was wary of going out.

He also suffered flashbacks and his mental health has deteriorated.

"At times I want to end my life and have taken overdoses and have been pulled back from jumping off a bridge," he stated.

Andrew McInnes, defending, said that Milligan’s mother was a Class A drug user and he had been brought up by his grandparents, who died when he was 17 leaving him to fend for himself.

He had been the subject of a violent assault in Seacombe during which he suffered a fractured eye socket and punctured lung but no one was ever brought to justice for the attack.

Milligan, of Brighton Street, Seacombe, became agitated that day and he took to drinking. Threats were then made against him resulting in the assault on the boy.

"He left the scene when he realised what he had done ... his remorse is genuine," said Mr McInnes.

He has physical and mental health problems, he added.

Judge McKone told Milligan that she "did not accept that the teenager offered you any threat.

"He was a very vulnerable young teenager."

Milligan had been angry with the partner of a woman who lived at the house and the boy just happened to be there by chance.

"He was totally innocent in all of this and he took the brunt of your anger.

"He was a 15-year-old boy just minding his own business waiting for his friend when you attacked him," she told him.

As Milligan was led to the cells he called out to a friend in the public gallery to look after his dog.

After his trial last month he had been cleared of a more serious alternative charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent on the boy and also possessing the broom handle as an offensive weapon.