Ashfield man beat up a work colleague because he thought he was having an affair with his former partner

Craig Spencer committed the attack after he dragged the man out of his car while his ex was sitting in the passenger seat in a car park on February 4 this year, Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday, October 28.

Prosecuting, Becky Allsop told the court that the victim received facial injuries, including a broken nose in the attack, which took place in the South Normanton area.

She said: “The victim is employed at the same business as the defendant, and the lady in question had previously been in a relationship with the defendant, which had ended at Christmas.

“The victim had arranged to have a coffee with the lady and all of a sudden his car door opened and it was the defendant. He punched him several times to the face and pulled him to the floor and at one point the defendant shouted, ‘Get up and take some more’.

“The lady then told him to go away and that the police had been called, and he then went round to the victim’s address and said that he was having an affair. It was a sustained assault on the victim, who was pulled from his vehicle.”

Spencer, aged 45, of Thoresby Crescent, Sutton, had admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm at a previous hearing and the case had been adjourned for pre-sentence reports to be prepared by the Probation Service.

Mitigating, Ben Strelley told the court: “It was at the end of a five-year relationship and comments had been made to him that his former partner was having an affair with the complainant.

“Whether that is the case or not, he didn’t deal appropriately with the emotions he had felt. He’s still employed at the same place of work and there doesn’t seem to be any ongoing issues. It would seem that all the parties have drawn a line under it.”

Spencer was given a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 14 rehabilitation activity days.

He must also pay £1,500 in compensation, £85 costs and a £120 victim surcharge.

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