A DAD who left a man 'knocked out cold' after attacking him in the street has been spared jail.

Andrew James Marshall, of Maes Heulog in Caernarfon, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday.

The 47-year-old had previously admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm upon victim Daniel John Stuart Cope in Caernarfon last year.

Jade Tufail, prosecuting, told the court the incident happened on the night of June 23 following a "disagreement" between the two, who had known each other for around eight years.

Marshall was seen on CCTV stopping his car and getting out to confront Mr Cope on the street.

He then punched him "with a lot of force" on the eye socket area.

Mr Cope later described it as "knocking him out cold" and said he was seeing stars as he fell to the floor.

He didn't know how long he was unconscious for and nobody was there when he came round, the court heard, but he went home and the police were called.

It was later confirmed he had sustained a fractured eye socket in the attack.

Marshall went to Caernarfon Police Station to hand himself in and told officers what had happened.

Mr Cope had to take time of work to recover, the court heard.

Dafydd Roberts, defending, told the court: "It is a strange case. "He doesn't seek to justify what he did.

"He was in the shower and his wife showed him a post from the victim on Facebook. "That was a derogatory post.

"Mr Marshall played to me a number of audio recordings sent to him by Mr Cope and they are threatening and provocative.

"He made his way straight there and he shouldn't have.

"He is remorseful."

Judge Huw Rees told Marshall: "You lost your temper because of that provocation, when you shouldn't have.

"You decided to confront him and in a short duration you inflected repeated punches.

"It was wholly unnecessary.

"He was left reeling from your violence and left with an orbital fracture."

Judge Rees refrained from imposing immediate custody - sentencing Marshall to a 12 month sentence suspended for 12 months.

He ordered Marshall to pay compensation of £1,000 to Mr Cope and ordered him to undertake 30 days of rehabilitation activity.

Marshall was also made the subject of a three year restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim.

"I hope you can put this matter behind you," the Judge said.