A thug launched an unprovoked and "appalling" attack on a man as he tucked into his takeaway on a Nottinghamshire street. Daniel Ball, a railway engineer, jumped out of a grey Audi and walked up to his victim.
He punched him in the face, followed by a "flurry of kicks and punches to his body," Nottingham Justice Centre heard. A witness waded in and ushered Ball away on July 4, 2021.
A second Good Samaritan helped the man to his feet in High Street, Warsop. Before the violence, the victim recalled visiting the Warsop Ex-Servicemens Club and leaving at 11pm and stopping at a kebab shop.
READ MORE: Vicious street attack left victim needing 'serious dental work'
The next thing he remembered was being helped off the ground with blood to his face. He visited a dentist who found he had a fractured jaw and needed serious dental work, the court was told.
Ball pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to the man after the car he was a passenger in was traced using CCTV. He was voluntarily interviewed - explaining he had attacked the man after they earlier chatted whilst watching football in the club.
He said the victim's attitude towards him changed. He apparently told Ball, "if you ever want a dance, let's dance".
Ball was also told that the victim had tried to kiss a friend's girlfriend. After leaving and getting a lift in the Audi, Ball saw the man again and asked the driver of the Audi to stop.
Ball got out and went up to him and hit him once - after the man had "wound him up during the evening".
He admitted he lost control and should have stayed in the car. Aged 35 and of Morven Terrace, Warsop, Ball was represented by barrister Matt Hayes who said of the incident "It was one kick initially and then a flurry of punches".
"He knows he should not have behaved in the way that he did", he added. Judge Rosalind Coe KC said the victim lost teeth, had a fractured jaw, a cut lip and bruising.
"This was an appalling, unprovoked attack which had serious consequences," she said as she sentenced him. "Even when he was on the floor, you kicked him".
She spared Ball from immediate custody after she took into account his family circumstances and commitments, his regret and remorse, and his self-referral to counselling. Ball wiped away tears as a 16-month prison sentence was suspended for two years on Monday (October 10).
His punishment includes ten rehabilitation activity days, 120 hours unpaid work, and requirement to pay £300 compensation to the victim.
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