A FORMER Royal Marine who assaulted a man in his own home over an argument about a mobile phone has avoided a prison sentence.

Oliver Matthew Chard, of High Trees Court, Sherburn-In-Elmet, appeared at York Crown Court to face a charge of actual bodily harm against Wayne Smith, who had sold a phone to Chard’s girlfriend.

The court heard the victim was at his home in Sherburn-in-Elmet with his wife when Chard, 30, knocked on the door to complain about texts Mr Smith had sent his girlfriend.

Chloe Fairley, prosecuting, told the court Chard then entered Mr Smith’s home and threw a couple of punches, before grabbing him by his polo shirt and pulling him out of the house.

He continued to punch Mr Smith until his victim fell to the ground.

Taryn Turner, for Chard, told the court her client had “a somewhat chequered career” in offending.

He had struggled against a drug problem, which he beat during a prison sentence in 2007.

Mrs Turner said: “He realised he was away from his family and unable to support his mother in particular.

“That is something that has hit home very hard, and has perhaps had a maturing influence.

“After a somewhat shaky start, he has made genuine and sustained efforts to turn his life around,” she said.

The court heard Chard was working with a drug dependency charity in Bradford to help young addicts deal with their problems, work which Recorder Ian Atherton praised.

Judge Atherton said: “You managed to defeat that habit, and were working your way out of it when this occurred.

“This all occurred over a £100 phone, which, when you stand in the dock of crown court, might seem to be a crazy reason to be here.”

Judge Atherton said he would not impose a custodial sentence because this would affect the positive work Chard was doing for the charity.

Instead he ordered Chard to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work within 12 months, and to pay £200 compensation to the victim.