A MAN who assaulted a mechanic in his own home has been warned he faces jail.

Joe Harvey Porter, also known as Joe Berryman, was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm on James Smith following a trial at Dorchester Crown Court.

Garage owner Mr Smith told the jury that he had been at his then home in Bradford Road, Weymouth, at around 10pm on April 25 last year when the defendant came round. He said he was watching television with Porter sat next to him when he suddenly felt a blow to his face and saw the 23-year-old standing in front of him.

Porter immediately left and Mr Smith said he smashed a glass panel in his front door on the way out.

Mr Smith was left with a broken bone below his eye as a result of the attack.

Porter, of Chickerell Road, Weymouth, claimed he had been round to Mr Smith’s property to discuss a car the mechanic had agreed to do some work on.

However, he said Mr Smith would not let him in and closed the front door on him, causing the glass to smash and cutting him on the arm.

Porter told jurors he did not know how Mr Smith had sustained the injuries to his face and denied assaulting him.

It took the jury around three hours of deliberating to reach the guilty verdict and Porter was released on bail as the case was adjourned until October 19 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Judge Roger Jarvis warned the defendant: “I’m sure you appreciate the offence of which you have been convicted is a serious offence and there is every prospect of you receiving a custodial sentence.”