A man who beat another man over the head with a saucepan in an “exceptionally violent” attack has been jailed for six years.

Ajeell Chiyamalendran, 21, of Larkfield Avenue, Harrow, was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on Thursday, after being found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Police were called to a home in Stanmore to reports of a fight on Saturday November 16 last year.

The 28-year-old victim had sent his former girlfriend - who was in a relationship with Chiyamalendran - threatening text messages saying he would come to her address to harm her.

The woman showed Chiyamalendran the threats, and he waited behind the kitchen door at the house.

When the victim arrived Chiyamalendran hit him with a glass bottle, then stamped on his head before hitting him with a saucepan while he was on the floor.

Police say he then took a “trophy” picture of his victim before running from the scene.

Chiyamalendran was identified as a suspect and was arrested at an address in Larkfield Avenue.

He admitted to being at the Stanmore address but said he was not involved in the attack, which left the victim with fractures to his face.

But police used forensic evidence to prove Chiyamalendran at the scene of the assault and officers also found the phone with the photo of the victim.

Detective Constable Janine Stevenson from Harrow CID, who investigated the attack, said: “This was an exceptionally violent and nasty attack which left the victim slumped unconscious on the floor in a pool of blood with multiple head injuries including a fractured cheek bone.

She added: “His actions were one of a weak and cowardly individual who was intent on inflicting serious harm on the victim, in order to impress his new girlfriend and to achieve complete control of her and their relationship.

“Immediately after the attack, Chiyamalendran manipulated his girlfriend into lying to police and covering for him by threatening her not to "snitch" on him.

“I am very relieved that the jury saw through his deceitful lies. The pain and suffering caused by his callous actions is incalculable.”