A motorist plagued by yobs interfering with his parked car took the law into his own hands - with a broom handle.
Michael Lyons, 44, struck a runaway youth over the head and fractured his skull, Basildon Crown Court heard.
Lyons had been ushering garden ducks with the broom handle when he was told cars were being tampered with - a regular activity by vandals outside his home in Lodge Lane, Grays.
He chased after the gang before picking on the tallest teenager, said Stephen Rose, prosecuting.
Mr Rose described how the youth was knocked to the ground and later claimed he had to have surgery and six stitches put in his head wound.
It was not made clear if the victim had been responsible for any of the car damage, added Mr Rose.
Following the attack Lyons was arrested and told police he only meant to hit the youth on the shoulder. He admitted his actions were wrong.
His barrister, Nicholas Wilcox, said the assault happened in the heat of the moment and was a result of a series on nasty incidents.
On that particular evening last July, the Lyons family had a brick thrown through their window, added Mr Wilcox.
However, Judge Peter Dedman commented: "The trouble with retribution is, you never know if you have got the right person."
Lyons, who pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding, was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
He was also ordered to pay the victim £250 compensation.
Published Wednesday August 25, 2004
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