Man breaks disabled neighbour’s jaw with one punch

Willis (24) lived in the flat above 36-year-old Paul Carter, who had both feet amputated when he was a child and knew the defendant as they grew up together in the same area.

But Mr Carter became angry with Willis throwing rubbish out of his window in the block of flats they lived in at Monsall Street, Thurnscoe.

It also distressed an old lady living below and Mr Carter asked Willis, who had only lived in the flats for four months, to stop on numerous occasions, said Laura McBride, prosecuting.

Mr Carter was drinking a can of beer on a bench outside a shop in the village when Willis was walking past and he confronted him again about the rubbish and swore at Willis.

The disabled man suddenly felt a blow to his face which knocked him backwards and left him slumped on the bench.

Mr Carter looked up to see the defendant walk away and say: “You won’t mouth at me again.

The victim suffered a broken jaw, two cuts to his forehead and bruising and swelling to his face and needed hospital treatment.

When arrrested, Willis refused to answer police questions and was released on bail.

Just seven hours later Mr Carter was at home when he heard noises at his window in the early hours.

He found two men outside, one of them Willis, and the word “GRASS” had been spray-painted on the glass.

Willis was later arrested and again refused to speak denying any involvement.

Mr Carter, who is still having hospital treatment, said the assault had left him shaken and upset and Willis has known of his difficulties.

“Knowing I’m disabled he still hit me,” he said.

“I now don’t go out as frequently and it has knocked my confidence.”

Willis, who has now moved to King Street, Goldthorpe, admitted assault causing grievous bodily harm and witness intimidation in relation to the two incidents last July.

He was locked up for 42 months in 2009 after being convicted of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm involving use of a knife.

Mr Daniel Church, mitigating, said he was trying to get alternative accommodation out of the area and was temporarily living with an aunt.

The judge Recorder Gary Cook told Willis: “The victim was particularly vulnerable and you were aware of that.”

He said Willis needed help with his mental health problems as he had chosen not to take medication or accept assistance in the past.

Willis was given a 16-month jail term suspended for two years with 18 months supervision and he will be subject to mental