Flatmate beaten over ‘my father is richer’ boast

♦ Two Nigerian students described as “incredibly immature” and “cosseted” attacked their flatmate because he claimed his father was richer than theirs, the Old Bailey heard.

Elvis Ilonze, 20, attacked Prince Nnaji in their flat in Brighton. Mr Nnaji fled but Ilonze, with Daniel Oluyemi, 24, chased him and beat him with a wine bottle on April 7 last year.

The pair also assaulted Chiedozie Dibiagwu, 23, who was sat nearby and witnessed Mr Nnaji being assaulted.

When Mr Nnaji suggested he had the richer father, Ilonze decided to “teach him a lesson”, the court heard.

Ilonze and Oluyemi both admitted two counts of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm but were spared jail, with each given a suspended one-year prison sentence.

Judge Christine Laing said: “You both appear to be incredibly immature, perhaps as a result of being cosseted in your upbringing.”