A dad enjoying an in evening in a park with his wife and children was punched in the face by his neighbour with such force it broke his nose, jaw and cheekbone. The man had previously been friends with Kevin Simms, who lived near him in Twyford Close, Coalville.
But there had been “acrimony” in the lead up to the attack, Leicester Crown Court heard on Tuesday (January 14). Simms, who had pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, had been seen moving the man’s bin in front of his door and on the evening of Friday, May 17, Simms attacked him.
The victim had been celebrating a family birthday at his house and at about 8pm they all went to the nearby playground to let the children run around. Simms, a father-of-three, and his family also went out to the large green area at the back of Twyford Close and was caught on CCTV approaching the victim.
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A CCTV clip played to the judge showed the man sitting on a bench and Simms, standing over him, delivering a single upper-cut punch to his face and then walking away leaving him pouring with blood. The court heard that children witnessed the aftermath of the attack.
Caroline Bray, prosecuting, said there had been a short conversation before the attack in which Simms had asked the victim to take a walk with him and the victim had refused. She said: “The complainant’s children saw the aftermath and were shouting at the defendant to leave their parents alone. The complainant was bleeding heavily.”
She said the victim lost so much blood he began losing consciousness at home and went to hospital for treatment, which is still ongoing eight months later.
The incident happened on the playing field near Twyford Close in Coalville
(Image: Google)
In a victim personal statement, written in November, the man described the ongoing physical issues, including pain, numbness and a sensitivity to light, as well as the psychological impact such as flashbacks, trouble sleeping and a fear of going out.
She said the man, who has since left the area, now “just wants to stay indoors”. She added that the injuries were likely to cause issues for a long time, “if not for life”.
Simms, 46, who has previous convictions including affray in 2003, battery in 2004 and another battery in 2009, was represented in court by Lucky Thandi. She said he had stayed out of trouble since meeting his wife and that the attack was out of character.
She said: “He is remorseful and his true character is someone who is supportive of others and he’s not somoene who goes around using his fists on a regular basis.”
Judge Rebecca Herbert told Simms: “You went into a park where he was with his children – and there were a number of children in the vicinity. You approached him, took umbrage with whatever it was he said to you and in front of everyone delivered what can only be described as a haymaker-style punch.
“It must have been a blow that took considerable strength because it caused very serious injury. It was man you formerly called a friend and you were making a thorough nuisance of yourself leading up to this. Children were extremely distressed, there was a lot of blood loss and it was just a horrific incident to happen in a park.”
Simms was given a 22-month sentence suspended for two years. He will have to do 260 hours of unpaid work and take part in a 26-day Probation Service programme.
Judge Herbert said she wanted to make Simms pay compensation to his victim but his income from his job in putting up marquees in pub beer gardens, meant he could not afford the £1,000 she wanted him to pay. Ms Thandi offered a sum of £20 a month and the judge said Simms must pay £250 court costs instead.