A Spalding man who attacked a friend in a row over beer has been told to pay him £1,200 compensation after being given a suspended jail sentence.
David Males, 37, admitted throwing two punches at the victim after going back to a property in Coronation Avenue, Spalding, on August 5, 2024.
Lincoln Crown Court heard the two men had been to a local Lidl store where they bought 20 bottles of Budweiser.
Passing sentence Recorder Adrian Jack told Males: “You had been out together and you bought some beer on the way home.
“You thought he was taking some of the beer meant for you, so you punched him at least twice.”
Recorder Jack added: “It is clear you got annoyed about the row over the beer and then attacked the victim.”
Police attended the address and the victim was taken to hospital after suffering two cuts to his face which required glueing. Officers also found blood in the living room of the property.
“His injuries are unpleasant to see,” Recorder Jack told Males.
Recorder Jack said the attack was aggravated by the presence of children in the house and the defendant’s previous convictions.
“They must have been very upset to see their relative attacked in this way,” Recorder Jack explained.
The court heard Males had 15 previous convictions and received a seven year jail sentence in 2012 for offences of robbery and causing grievous bodily harm.
Males, of London Road, Spalding, admitted a single charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on August 5, 2024.
In mitigation the court heard Males was in employment and living in settled accommodation.
Recorder Jack said he accepted the attack was impulsive and short lived, and that Males had been out of trouble for some time.
Males was sentenced to ten months imprisonment suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay the victim £1,200 compensation.
He must also complete 100 hours of unpaid work in the community, 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and obey a restraining order which prevents any contact with the victim.
