A NEWPORT man has escaped an immediate custodial sentence after driving his tractor into a love rival.

George Headworth, 20, of Lambert Street, appeared at Newport Crown Court today having previously pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The court heard that the defendant drove to the house of his former girlfriend - Chelsea Watkins - in Monmouth to confront her current partner, Darawyn Skidmore, on April 6 last year.

Prosecuting, Christopher Rees told the court that Headworth wanted to “surprise” the complainant by driving his tractor straight at him.

“He was coming towards Mr Skidmore,” said Mr Rees, who added that the complainant was attempting to get away on his motorbike.

“He drove onto the wrong side of the road.”

The court heard that the tractor hit Mr Skidmore and his motorbike, and part of the vehicle became lodged in his leg, which left a 5cm cut, as it was trapped by a small garden wall after the brakes locked up.

“Leave me and my girlfriend alone,” Mr Rees said, confirming what Headworth shouted at Mr Skidmore during the incident.

Mr Rees added that the cut sustained by Mr Skidmore in his right leg was “deep and dirty” and required a wash out at the Nevill Hall hospital in Abergavenny.

The barrister said that Mr Skidmore was left mentally and physically scarred by the incident, and required physiotherapy due to the nature of the incision.

Defending, Claire Pickthall, told the court that Headworth had been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, which left him with “black and white” thinking.

“He had no previous convictions and there was a degree of provocation,” said Miss Pickthall.

“He has expressed remorse. The letter that he has written expresses that.”

“He confirmed that he is sorry for what happened that day,” she added.

Since the incident, Miss Pickthall told the court that Headworth has lost his tractor licence, which he used as a source of income for gardening maintenance.

Concluding, Judge Daniel Williams said that Headworth had travelled to Monmouth for one reason on the day of the incident.

“You had found out that he was with Chelsea and you drove your tractor at him,” he said, adding that he failed to stop his tractor as it hit Mr Skidmore.

“His leg was trapped between the motorbike and a small wall.”

Headworth received a one year sentence in a young offender’s institute suspended for one and a half years from the judge. He was also handed a 30 day rehabilitation order, disqualified from driving for two years and will have to pay a victim surcharge of £140.