Harwich father-of-eight attacked rumour-spreading neighbour

James Cooper, 41, had gone to the man’s house in Harwich in February this year, but the victim opened the door and shoved him as the argument spiralled into a full-on brawl.

The fight was part of a long-running feud which involved Cooper and a neighbour, Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court heard.

Rece Penfold, prosecuting, said the incident was “a prolonged and persistent attack” which involved the victim being punched and kicked, and having his thumb bent back.

She said: “The victim attended hospital but due to the delays it would take to have an X-ray, he decided to discharge himself.”

Cooper, of Oakland Road, Dovercourt, admitted one charge of assault by beating.

Aqsa Farooq, mitigating, said Cooper was assaulted first when the neighbour opened his front door and shoved the defendant.

She said: “This is a case of excessive self-defence.

“There is history between the defendant and the victim’s family.

“Cooper had been hearing rumours the complainant had been calling him a paedophile and saying other horrible things about his family.

“His intention was to have a conversation with the victim, not start a fight.

“As soon as the door was opened, the defendant was pushed back by the victim, and that is how the assault took place.”

Ms Farooq accepted Cooper has 15 convictions for 18 offences but added he had not been before a criminal court since 2018.

She continued: “He has eight children to look after.

“They are currently living in the same house, but they are being evicted from it and they are looking to be emergency housed.

“He tells me he has broken his leg playing football and was working as a groundworker before this, but isn’t able to anymore because of having plates and pins in his leg.”

Magistrates sentenced Cooper to a conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £85 in costs, as well as a £26 victim surcharge, which will be deducted from his benefits.