A MAN who battered his friend with a baseball bat then photographed him as he lay unconscious has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how Gary Proudlove had been out drinking with Michael Wilson when they started arguing while playing pool at the Cricketers Arms.

Proudlove, 52, from Heathfield Avenue in Thatto Heath, had been asked to leave the pub then started sending abusive texts to Mr Wilson and his partner.

As Mr Wilson walked home along Campbell Street at around 1.45am on May 29 he heard Proudlove shout from behind “here Mike, take that” and attacked him with a baseball bat.

Prosecutor Frank Dillon told the court that he struck his friend in the face knocking him to the ground.

He continued battering him with the bat until it snapped in two, but carried on the assault by kicking him as he lay on the ground, knocking him unconscious.

Mr Dillon said: “He then photographed him and sent a photo text to the victim’s friend stating ‘Like I said – down’.”

Proudlove then dialled 999 before leaving the scene. He later went to a police station asking officers “Is he ok? He’s my mate.”

Proudlove pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon.

Passing sentence Judge Stephen Everett said: “Loss of pride in front of Mr Wilson and friends in that pub caused you to behave in this terrible way. You became extremely agitated.”

He pointed out that his “cowardly behaviour” could have killed his friend and it was “a complete miracle” his injuries were not more serious and nothing was fractured.

He told him: “You photographed him on the phone and sent a gloating text to someone you each knew, almost as if you were proud of what you did.”

The judge said that Proudlove has minor previous convictions a long time ago, which made his behaviour “all the more illogical”.

Frank Dillon explained that Mr Wilson, who is a support worker, has been left psychologically traumatised and has attempted suicide.

Robert Haygarth, defending, said Proudlove has expressed genuine remorse admitting: “I have ruined his life. I have ruined both our lives.”

Proudlove used to be driving instructor and DJ in the canaries but had to give up his day job because of a congenital back condition. Mr Haygarth said he has also struggled to come to terms with losing both parents within two weeks.