Bully to pay £2k after attacking partner's ex

A judge told 19-year-old Luke Rogers: "You thoroughly deserve to go to prison." But he held back so that the defendant could compensate Connor Hart for the injuries he suffered and for damage to his car.

The first assault took place on May 6 last year when Rogers spotted his partner's ex outside her address in his car and approached him shouting: "Come on, get out of the car, left me fight you."

When Mr Hart stayed where he was, Rogers struck him a couple of times through the open window of the vehicle, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard. The victim suffered a cut to the head and some grazing, while the car was dented and a wing mirror damaged.

The second attack took place a month later, on June 12, following a chance encounter outside an address in Dudley.

Mr Nicolas Burn, prosecuting, said the defendant approached Mr Hart, asking 'You Connor, yeah?' before punching him in the face twice, and kicking him to the head three or four times as he lay on the ground.

Rogers, who was with a group of friends, ran off shouting a warning: "Watch your back," the court heard.

When arrested he denied involvement in the first attack until being told there was dashcam footage of the incident. He also denied the second assault until the day his trial was due to start.

The court heard he had previous convictions in the youth court for carrying a knife and racially abusing a shopkeeper.

In his defence Mr Stephen Hamblett said that Rogers was still with the girl who had been the subject of the two men's rivalry. They now had an 11-week-old baby and he had since found a job.

Mr Hamblett added the second incident had been the result of a chance meeting and he had not deliberately sought out Mr Hart.

Rogers, of Bluebell Road, Dudley, pleaded guilty to two assaults, causing actual bodily harm, and one count of criminal damage.

Judge James Burbidge, QC, said there appeared to have been an issue between the two men which Rogers should have sorted by going to the police.

"Instead you decided to to try your hand at bullying and you struck out at him through the car window," he said.

"You didn't leave it there and hit out again because of a complete lack of maturity when you met by coincidence a second time. You've also tried to avoid responsibility at each turn."

Rogers was sentenced to 16 months detention for the second attack and three months for the earlier one, both suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to carry out a total of 120 hours unpaid work and pay Mr Hart £2,000 compensation.