Corby thug left friend fearing he would be killed

A violent Corby thug left a friend with blood pouring from his face after smacking him over the head with a vodka bottle.

Gerald Gribbin had only been spared jail months earlier over a terrifying knifepoint robbery when he attacked his pal of 30 years on May 8.

The 47-year-old accused his victim of "trying it on" with his former girlfriend before jumping on top of him and punching him in a drink and drug-fuelled rage.

Yesterday Northampton Crown Court heard the incident had left the victim struggling physically and mentally.

Prosecutor Neil Bannister said: "He really believed he was going to be killed in his flat."

The victim had returned from a BBQ and invited Gribbin over at about 6pm, with the pair drinking lager before heading out to buy a bottle of vodka to share.

They returned to the victim's Corby flat where they drank more and took cocaine, the court heard.

Mr Bannister said: "Shortly after, unfortunately, the atmosphere between the two of them changed."

After he was accused of making advances towards Gribbin's former girlfriend, the victim asked his friend to leave.

Instead Gribbin, of no fixed address but from the Corby area, got up off the sofa and struck him to the side of the head with the now-empty vodka bottle.

Blood started pouring from his face and Gribbin jumped on top of him.

He then said: "You are not my mate. I am going to f****** kill you."

He punched him three times and hit him with the bottle again but the victim punched back and poked a finger into Gribbin's eye, making him squeal, before running off.

The victim was taken to KGH with a 2.5cm laceration to his head, bruise above his eye and cut lip.

At first he couldn't hear out of his left ear and is stilll left with a ringing noise in his head. The court heard he has lost confidence, was left with a scar and struggles with sleep and his memory.

Gribbin, who gave no comment answers when questioned by police, has a history of violence dating back to 1991 with convictions for wounding, affray and ABH.

In February last year he was convicted after a fight in The Kingfisher pub in Corby before he was convicted of the knifepoint robbery in Oxford.

A judge originally spared him jail and sentenced him to a community order - which he was subject to when he attacked his friend - but he was re-sentenced to three years and nine months in prison after breaching it.

Mitigating, Liam Muir said Gribbin had handed himself in two days after the robbery and that it was a cry for help.

He is now drug-free, has become a rep for prisoners who are struggling and has come on "leaps and bounds" in custody, the court heard.

Mr Muir said: "He has shown a real effort in custody to be a model prisoner."

Gribbin, who appeared via videolink from HMP Peterborough yesterday, admitted causing grievous bodily harm without intent over the attack on his friend.

Sentencing, Her Honour Judge Rebecca Crane told him: "You lack insight into your own behaviour and the risk you pose to others."

Gribbin was jailed for two years, which will run consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving for robbery.

Judge Crane deemed him such a danger that she imposed an extended licence period of three years upon his release.

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