Ill-tempered Sheffield thug attacked neighbour after a row with his ex

Lee Depledge, aged 27, of Wincobank Avenue, Wincobank, had been having a row with his ex-partner when he came out of her home and tried to strike a neighbour who had been smoking a cigarette outside, according to a Sheffield Magistrates’ Court hearing on December 4, which had been sitting at Sheffield Crown Court.

Prosecuting solicitor Rob Coyne said the complainant thought there had been an argument at his neighbour’s property and he had been at his front door finishing a cigarette when he was attacked.

Mr Coyne added: “All of a sudden the defendant came from his neighbour’s house and he described him slamming the front door so hard he thought it was going to come off the hinges.

“Mr Depledge turned to his neighbour and swung towards him with his left hand and the complainant blocked the fist with his arm to prevent being hit in the face.”

Mr Coyne said Depledge went into the road shouting threats and he returned with a male and a female and made further threats.

Depledge pleaded guilty to assault after the incident on July 7.

Defence solicitor Zawar Shah said Depledge accepts there was an argument between himself and his ex-partner at her house and he had been angry and felt he was being goaded by the complainant but accepts he should not have acted the way he did.

Mr Shah added: “He acknowledges he was wound up but he also acknowledges he should not have reacted in the way he did and he apologises.”

Mr Shah added that Depledge suffers with anxiety and depression and has been keeping away from people who have had a negative influence on him.

District Judge Naomi Redhouse told Depledge: “My view is that when you are upset you make poor decisions including taking offence where in other situations you should walk away.”

She sentenced Depledge to a 12 month community order with a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and a 14 day curfew. He was also ordered to pay £50 compensation and £85 costs.