A 42-year-old man picked up a $4,000 fine in Magistrates’ Court after getting into a fight with a love rival.Silkhurst Richardson, of North Shore Road, Hamilton parish, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Kenneth Trott, but denied using a key as an offensive weapon.The court heard from Crown counsel Cindy Clarke that on the morning of March 5, Mr Trott attended his sister’s house on Twin Lanes in Hamilton Parish, to pick up a door hinge for a repair job at Crawl Club.As Mr Trott got out of his car, it is alleged that Richardson came up behind him, pushed him against the car door, and shouted “You got my girlfriend drunk” before punching him in the face.Mr Trott received a deep cut to his upper lip. He returned to the club and called police, who subsequently arrested Richardson. Under interview at Southside Police Station, Richardson admitted the offence but claimed to have been defending himself.Ms Clarke told the court that the two men had known each other all their lives.Richardson told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner: “I was trying to get my girlfriend help because she’s an alcoholic. Those guys have been getting her drunk and taking advantage of her.”Asked of his relationship to the woman, Richardson said: “She’s my ex-girlfriend but she thinks she’s my girlfriend when she sobers up.”He claimed also that the woman had recently broken his windows.Richardson told Mr Warner that he had only struck Mr Trott in retaliation after being punched.Mr Warner said: “You went and maliciously interfered with him, you’ve admitted. When he turned up in his car, you got up to confront him.”He gave Richardson a fine of $1,000 for causing grievous bodily harm, and ordered him to pay Mr Trott $3,000 in reparation for medical costs.Richardson answered: “Even though he punched me first?”Mr Warner replied: “You can do three months in prison for this.”He gave Richardson until next month to pay.