Parking permit Wednesbury row ended in violence
It started with a row over a parking permit and ended with a man suffering a fractured cheekbone and left with double vision in one eye.
Thomas Slater will have to pay out £1,250 in compensation after punching Kenneth Hickman following an argument about Slater's girlfriend parking her car without a permit in Hollies Drive, Wednesbury.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Slater's partner returned to her car on June 7 to find a note pasted onto her window screen criticising the validity of her parking.
She then called her partner, upset with the abusive message, and when he arrived Mr Hickman, aged 54, told Slater, 29, his girlfriend shouldn't have parked there in the first place.
Mr Paul Reid, prosecuting, told the court that the men then got into a heated argument and Slater punched Hickman leaving him with a fractured cheekbone.
Such were the injuries Mr Hickman had to cancel his wedding due to the date of an operation. It was not known who placed the note on the car.
Mr Reid said: "The complainant said to Mr Slater that his partner should not have parked in the street without a permit.
"There was a conversation between them both and a single punch was thrown by the defendant towards the claimants face.
"The defendant then left the scene.
"Mr Hickman suffered a swollen cheek which was later found to have been fractured. He had to have hospital treatment which meant he had to cancel his wedding."
In a victim impact statement Mr Hickman said he still had double vision in his left eye six months after the attack.
Slater was arrested more than a month later on July 24 and gave no comment during a police interview.
Mr Harpreet Sandhu, defending, said Slater had been provoked when Mr Hickman insulted his girlfriend.
He said: "This was an overreaction from Mr Slater. His partner became upset from the posting of a note on her car and when the conversation between Mr Slater and Mr Hickman became heated he reacted the wrong way from provocation. He has had many months to reflect on what he has done and as a result it has crystallised into remorse."
Slater of Hydes Road in Wednesbury, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm on the basis he had been provoked.
Recorder Mr Denis Desmond sentenced Slater to eight months in custody but suspended for 18 months. He must also pay £1,250 in compensation to Mr Hickman and £550 in court costs.
Slater was ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.
