A MAN who was beaten up for creating a false Facebook website account in his attacker’s name “to some extent brought it on himself”, a judge said.
Mark Pratt broke Philip Rees’ jaw after learning about the page.
Alistair Grainger, prosecuting, yesterday told Oxford Crown Court: “Mr Rees thought it would be rather amusing to set up a Facebook profile in the name of Mr Pratt. He started sending messages to mutual friends as if from Mr Pratt and at the time everything was received with a great deal of mirth and merriment.”
However, Mr Grainger said the messages then began to include racist comments. On May 22, Pratt, 29, went to Mr Rees’ house and it was agreed he could hit Mr Rees once without retaliation, but Pratt punched him three or four times and kicked him.
John Simmons, defending, said the Facebook messages had caused Pratt huge problems with an Asian friend.
Pratt, of Church Street, Didcot, had admitted causing grievous bodily harm and possession of cannabis.
Judge Christopher Compston gave Pratt a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, a year’s supervision and told him to pay £500 compensation.
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