A lodger who was upset at breaking up with his partner attacked his landlady's son, knocking him unconscious and kicking him repeatedly on the floor, a court has heard.

Ernesta Karalius, 24, had initially become aggressive towards the woman he had been lodging with after he split from his girlfriend.

Norwich Crown Court heard she called her son who came round to her home in King's Lynn to help and protect her.Norwich Crown CourtNorwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) Chris Youell, prosecuting, said the son asked Karalius to leave but he became aggressive and punched him in the face.

He said the victim "fell over" but "hit his head on the radiator which rendered him unconscious".

Karalius then "kicked him multiple times" in the head and body as he was on the floor.

Mr Youell said the victim's mother tried to stop the defendant who went into the kitchen and picked up three knives before leaving.

The knives were later found in a nearby bin by officers who were called after the attack on March 19 last year.

Karalius, of Higham Green, Lynn, appeared in court on Monday after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Ernesta Karalius at Norwich Crown CourtErnesta Karalius at Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) He also admitted three counts of possessing a knife in a public place.

Before he was sentenced, the victim read out a statement in which he described how he suffered a prolapsed disc which required a steroid injection in his spine.

He said he had to pay privately due to NHS waiting times.

The victim, who cannot pick up his young daughter, has not yet returned to work and is now on sick pay which has left him struggling to pay for bills and his accommodation, causing him "great anxiety".

Imposing a 21-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, Judge Andrew Shaw said it was a "serious assault".

Karalius was also ordered to pay £2,000 compensation as well as undertake 200 hours unpaid work.

Stephen Mather, mitigating, said Karalius had "split up with his girlfriend" when "it seems everything got the better of him and then he reacted as he did".

Karalius was also made the subject of a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim - or his mother - directly or indirectly for the next two years.