A man who 'tracked down and throttled' a 13-year-old after they clashed while playing an online game today avoided going to jail

A man who 'tracked down and throttled' a 13-year-old after they clashed while playing an online game today avoided going to jail.

Unemployed Mark Bradford, 46, admitted one count of assault by beating and was handed a 16-week prison sentence at Plymouth Magistrates' Court, suspended for 12 months.

Bradford had 'lost it' after the teenager gloated at his character's death while they played Call of Duty: Black Ops over the internet.

The father of three from Plymouth's St Budeaux walked 200 yards to the house where the boy was playing the computer game with friends and grabbed him by the throat.

The attack only stopped when a mother at the house pulled Bradford away from the youngster.

District Judge Robert Morgan-Jones said: 'Mr Bradford, you are a 46-year-old man. It is of great concern that you, as an adult, who I would expect to be able to control yourself, managed to blur the lines of fantasy and the real world in which you live in.

'In July you were playing an online game in which you can communicate with others playing. 

'As a result of what happened during this game, words were passed between you and a 13-year-old boy.

'Clearly you were upset. You then decided to leave your home address and physically confront the child. This involved putting your hands around his neck.  

Suspended sentence: Bradford was given 16 weeks for attacking the teenager who gunned down his character in online game Call of Duty

'I do not accept, whatever he said, that you should have behaved in the way you did.  

'He was a vulnerable victim and placing your hands around his neck put him in fear of injury. It must have been a very frightening experience for him.  

'The seriousness of this case means a custodial sentence is appropriate - the issue is whether to suspend it.  

'I take into account your guilty plea and the remorse you have shown.' 

Bradford, who refused to comment today, was ordered to wear an electronic tag for eight weeks and was given a 7pm to 7am curfew. He was also ordered to pay £80 compensation to the teenager. 

The 46-year-old was playing the war game on his PlayStation 3 console on July 1 when he was subjected to a barrage of taunts and abuse, including being called a 'd***head'.

The 'banter' between him and the 13-year-old became personal after the boy gunned down Bradford's character and the man admitted he 'lost it' and stormed round to confront the youngster.  

He barged into the living room of the house and placed both hands around the teenager's throat in a 'revenge attack', which caused reddening and a scratch to the boy's neck.  

The youngster, who cannot be identified, said last month: 'I was just sat playing. We'd had a bit of a joke and then he stormed in and grabbed me. I didn't know what was going on.' 

The victim's 33-year-old mother said after the attack: 'It's pathetic that a grown man would attack a defenceless child like this.

'If you can't handle losing to a child then you shouldn't be playing games.

'I know Mark and went straight round when I found out what had happened. I was fuming. But rather than have it out with him, I got the police involved.' 

Bradford, who reportedly has mental health issues, said after last month's hearing: 'I'd been playing the whole day and he was baiting me and just would not shut up.  

'I just lost it. In a moment of madness I went round to the house. I didn't know what I was going to do.

'It wasn't malice. I just grabbed him. I've seen him since and apologised. The injuries weren't that bad but I do regret it.' 

Call Of Duty features a variety of war scenes and carries an 18 guidance certificate.

Participants combat each other online in real time and can communicate throughout the violent battles.