A THUG in shining armour has escaped jail despite unleashing a brutal and prolonged attack on a man looking after his drunk partner at a New Year’s Eve party.

Christopher Titheradge beat up the father-of-four in front of his children striking him about 20 times including while he was down on the floor while mistakenly believing he was being gallant and helping the woman.

Basildon Crown Court heard the victim was not drinking so he could look after his children at the party.

His partner had too much to drink and began arguing with the host before going outside to cool down, where she met Titheradge.

Titheradge, 30, of Gambleside, Basildon, was consoling her when her husband came out and took her by the arm to help her back inside.

Matthew Bagnall, proseucting, said: “The victim received a message that his partner was upset outside so he went to see her.

“The defendant and the victim’s partner were both outside and the defendant appeared to be consoling her.

“The victim goes up to her and takes her arm to guide her back inside.

“The defendant then made a remark about striking women and began to punch the victim.”

The court heard the victim fell to the floor and sustained a serious break to his ankle which involved snapped tendons.

While he was on the floor, Titheradge continued to attack him.

Mr Bagnall added: “There are witness statements that state the defendant went back into the kitchen and was heard saying ‘I’ve got morals. I won’t let a man hit a woman. I hit him 20 times and just kept hitting him’.”

Mr Bagnall told the court Titheradge was arrested that night.

Chris Whitcombe, mitigating, said that, bar some “unfortunate comments” made on social media in the immediate aftermath of the assault, the defendant was remorseful.

He added: “It was a perceived act of gallantry on his behalf.

“He has never shied away from being the person who struck the complainant.”

Titheradge initially denied one count of causing grievous bodily harm but changed his plea before a trial could take place.

Sentencing him at Basildon Crown Court yesterday, judge Ian Graham said: “The victim came outside and took his partner’s arm to guide her back inside. You misinterpreted this and took exception to it and so proceeded to attack him.

“I accept the ankle injury was not a deliberate consequence of the fall.

“However, a serious injury it was and for a long time and even still to this day, the victim is affected by that both physically and emotionally.”

Titheradge was jailed for a year suspended for 18 months as well as 20 days with the probation service and 200 hours of unpaid work. Judge Graham ordered him to pay £1,000 compensation to his victim and court charges.