A Douglas man beat a lover unconscious after a row over a text message which ’outed him’ to his friends.

Shaun David Brennan, of Tynwald Street, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm and will be sentenced on June 13 after the preparation of a probation report.

Prosecutor James Robinson told the court how, on April 23 at 5.17am, the victim rang police to say he had been assaulted by ’Shaun’ in his flat on Douglas Promenade.

When police called the man was said to be ’bruised and bloodied’ so he was taken to hospital with head and facial injuries.

meeting

The man told police that he had known Brennan for two to three years after meeting him in a nightclub here.

He said that they had been involved in a ’casual sexual relationship’ and that he had texted Brennan earlier in the evening asking him if he would like to come round to the flat, but had got no reply.

However, at 3am Brennan arrived at the man’s flat and was said to be agitated and aggressive, shouting that he had been ’outed’ to his friends.

Brennan said that the text had been read by a friend because he did not have his glasses and could not read it.

Brennan then pushed the victim to the floor and got on top of him, punching him to the face and head.

The man said that he twice lost consciousness during the assault and felt a large blow to the back of his head at one point.

A wooden ornament was found with a blood-like substance on it at the scene, which has been sent for forensic tests.

blacked out

The victim said he blacked out after being hit with dozens of punches and awoke later to find Brennan gone.

Brennan was located by police and arrested but made no comment during an interview.

The prosecutor said that the case was borderline when it came to deciding whether it should go to the Court of General Gaol Delivery.

Defending Brennan in court advocate Paul Rodgers said that his client accepted the victim’s account of events.

Mr Rodgers said: ’His recollection is hazy. He doesn’t recall using an object, but it could have been used. He only recalls punching.’

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes recorded a conviction but said that the venue for sentencing would be decided after the forensics results had been received and it was known whether there was to be any dispute over the facts, which may result in a Newton Hearing being necessary.

Bail was granted.