Man attacked a woman he falsely said was ‘druggie’

PUNCHED HER AFTER CLAIMING SHE PICKED UP CIGARETTE ENDS

A MAN punched a woman in the chest after baselessly accusing her of being a “druggie” and of picking up cigarette ends in the street outside his home, a court heard.

Kyle Croxall shouted a series of insults at the woman from his car before striking her, causing her to slump to the ground, smashing her phone in the process.

The 25-year-old targeted the woman as she walked along Bosworth Road, Donisthorpe, with a male friend.

Croxall, now of Yates Close, Moira, appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court to admit assault and criminal damage.

Prosecutor Neill Hollett told the court Croxall began shouting at the woman as he passed by in his car on Saturday, May 30.

Mr Hollett told the court he said: “You druggie, how dare you pick up fag ends outside my house?” Mr Hollett said: “She said he repeated these things and she took out her phone and started to take pictures of him.

“He got out of his car at that point and came across the road.

“She describes it as being punched in the chest with such force that she fell back against the railings of a house.

“Her telephone was broken when she fell and she was left with a bruise on her chest.”

Croxall drove away, leaving the injured woman on the ground.

“She met this defendant again in a Co-op later and his identity was obtained from the store and that ultimately led police to him,” Mr Hollett said.

Croxall was arrested and interviewed in August.

Chris Black, mitigating, said: “He was living in the road where it happened and, correctly or not, he became suspicious of the woman’s behaviour.

“He was particularly sensitive at that time because he had just had twins and they were inside the house.

“He was on edge because he was not coping too well at the start of having two young children.

“He’s moved now and lives with this partner in a housing association property

“He wishes to apologise for his behaviour, which was obviously out of order.”

Magistrates ordered Croxall to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work.

He must pay £180 compensation to the woman.