Khalid Miah (Image: South Wales Police)
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A man attacked his neighbour at his own front door and knocked out his tooth after claiming the victim had stolen his broadband box.
Khalid Miah, 36, assaulted Richard Lydiard at the victim’s home in Cilfynydd, Pontypridd, on December 29 last year following a dispute between the neighbours.
The accusation
Miah had knocked on Mr Lydiard’s door and accused him of stealing his broadband box and swapping it for a broken one. Mr Lydiard told the defendant he was “not a thief” and told him to go away.
The attack
Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard on Wednesday that Miah tried to force his way past the victim into his flat and a scuffle broke out. The defendant threw punches and kicks at Mr Lydiard and attempted to stomp on his head before the victim managed to shut the door, prosecutor Victoria Maud said.
Police were called and Miah was arrested. During his police interview he denied the assault and claimed he had been acting in self-defence.
Victim’s words
In a victim personal statement read to the court by Ms Maud, Mr Lydiard said: “I was completely numbed and shocked at him accusing me of something I haven’t done and attacked me unprovoked.
“I am not a fighter and despise violence and have never been in trouble with the police. The whole situation completely terrified me.
“Every time I hear the door I am scared to answer it and go to the kitchen to look through my window to see who is waiting. I am too scared to go further than the local shops and too nervous to go far and leave my wife home alone.”
Sentencing
Miah, of Heol Nant, Cilfynydd, had previous convictions including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, battery and affray. He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
In mitigation, Sol Hartley said his client’s offence was “rooted in a delusional belief” the victim had stolen from him and that the defendant had been diagnosed with a depressive condition.
Recorder David Harris sentenced Miah to 13 months’ imprisonment and made him subject to a restraining order for five years.
