Ref. 25748-8TIAGO Teixeira beat up his best friend - who was like a brother to him - for giving him unwelcome attention, a court heard.

Teixeira, 20, of Westcott Place, Swindon, and his friend Jose De Sousa were "very good friends like brothers".

But over a period of time Teixeira, who is now engaged to be married, began to believe his friend wanted a sexual relationship with him.

This unwelcome attention came to a head one night when Mr De Sousa followed Teixeira back to his home and repeatedly banged on his window, magistrates heard on Friday.

Teixeira lost his temper and attacked his friend, who was taken to hospital with a cut to the head.

The two men met in Portugal three years ago, and Mr De Sousa helped Teixeira, who is Portuguese, move to England and get a job assembling cars at Swindon Pressings in Stratton St Margaret.

At Swindon Magistrates' Court, Teixeira pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Prosecutor Frank Murphy told magistrates: "The two men were very good friends like brothers, and used to go out drinking at the weekends."

On January 10, Mr De Sousa entered the Broadwalk pub where Teixeira was drinking and the defendant left immediately.

"Mr De Sousa visited the defendant's home in Eastcott Hill and kept knocking on the window with his door keys," said Mr Murphy.

"The defendant came to the door looking angry.

"Mr De Sousa turned and ran down the hill but the defendant ran after him, pushed him to the ground and kicked and punched him several times on the back and arm.

"Teixeira picked up Mr De Sousa and threw him against a parked car. Mr De Souza lost consciousness and when he came round he had blood all over his face and neck and a cut to the head that was bleeding heavily.

"Mr De Sousa was shocked and frightened, and was taken to hospital in an ambulance."

He was left with a one-inch cut to the side of his head and bruises to the body.

Roger Jones, for the defence, said: "It's always a matter of sadness when two friends end up with one of them coming to court.

"There had been difficulties between the two men. Teixeira felt he was being harassed by Mr De Sousa.

"And he believed Mr De Sousa wanted a closer relationship with him.

"Teixeira is engaged to be married, and felt revulsion at the advances being made over a period of time.

"He lost his temper because of the unwelcome attention paid to him by Mr De Sousa.

"It got to the point that he was at the end of his tether," the defence counsel said.

Chairman of the bench Richard Mattick said he would take into consideration the background of personal pressure and harassment experienced by Teixeira, and the fact the victim had followed him to his home.

Magistrates gave him a 60 hour community punishment order and told him to pay £75 compensation and £118 court costs.

After the hearing, Teixeira told the Advertiser he felt his trust had been betrayed.

"He (Mr De Sousa) said he wanted to be my friend but I'm convinced he wanted something more than just friendship.

"Friendships should be about respect and trust."

Teixeira, who wants to make a life for himself in Swindon, said he destroyed all the photos of his former friend.

"I just want him to leave me alone. I'm ashamed I lost my temper and I'm sorry this ever happened," Teixeira said.