Thug repeatedly punched Wakefield man to whom £75 was owed
Victim came to collect his cash and was set upon
A thug attacked a man who came to collect money owed, repeatedly punching to the face and headbutting him.
David Wills’ wife had borrowed £75 from the victim, and when he came to their door asking for it back, he was brutally assaulted.
Wills admitted a charge of ABH at Leeds Crown Court, but avoided being locked up.
The 51-year-old has a history of violence and was jailed last year for 30 months for strangling his wife.
Prosecutor Victoria Ball said his latest offending was triggered by the £75 debt.
The woman did not pay it back as agreed, and during a phone call between the man and Wills on October 16, 2024, Wills threatened to kill him.
The next day, the man went to Wills’ address at Acorn House, Castleford, and was let into the property.
Wills then turned on him, raining punches down on him and headbutting him. He also accused him of having an affair with his wife.
The man was able to get out of the home and a member of the public called 999 after seeing his injuries.
He was taken to hospital. His eye was so swollen he could not open it, Ms Ball said.
After his arrest, Wills claimed he was assaulted first but then refused to answer more police questions during his interview.
Wills, of Arundell Close, Wakefield, has 17 previous convictions for 23 offences.
A probation report into Wills suggested he knew his actions were wrong and should have “left the issue of the money”.
Mitigating, Lily Wildman said Wills had since made positive changes to his life.
Judge Simon Batiste gave him a 21-month sentence, suspended for two years, with 20 rehabilitation days to complete with probation and 160 hours of unpaid work.
He also handed him a five-year restraining order to keep him away from the victim.