Carpet cleaner broke hip tripping over tree stump after punch from ex-bouncer

A carpet cleaner broke his hip tripping over a tree stump after being hit by a former bouncer. Nottingham Crown Court heard how Josef Kaszycki struck the victim outside the defendant’s home following an argument over the state of one of his floor coverings.

That blow led to the man stumbling backwards, tripping over and landing on the side of his body. He then drove home, not realising the extent of his injuries, but struggled to get out of his van when he arrived there 15 minutes later and had to be taken to hospital.

Handing the 43-year-old defendant a six-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, Recorder Paul McGrath said: “He (the victim) is a self-employed individual and part of one of his tasks is to attend people’s properties and this will impact not only on his confidence but also any earning capacity in the future. This was excessive self-defence and it was impulsive.”

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Victoria Rose, prosecuting, said the incident took place at Kaszycki’s home address on May 23, last year. She said the defendant’s wife had agreed a carpet cleaning quote of £35 over Facebook messenger with the victim and he arrived, but was kept initially waiting outside by the couple, who were out.

The prosecutor said when they got home, all of the parties went inside and there was a disagreement over the bad state of one of the carpets which the victim said he was not prepared to clean. Miss Rose said: “The victim said any cleaning treatment would not work as there had obviously been bleach on the carpet at some point.

“There was a disagreement and he was told to leave but Mr Kaszycki became involved and told him not to speak to his wife in the manner he was doing. It ended up at the front of the property and Mr Kaszycki struck the victim to the chin which caused him to fall backwards and trip over a tree stump and he landed in the road.

“He then got into his van and left but when he arrived home he struggled to get out of it and was in excruciating pain.”

Miss Rose said the victim went to hospital where he underwent a scan and it was discovered he had fractured his hip. Kaszycki, of Stoneyford Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.

Clarkson Baptiste, mitigating, said his client had been working for more than 20 years, including as a door supervisor in Nottingham city centre. He said: “Through me, he takes full responsibility for his actions and is deeply remorseful.”

As part of the suspended sentence order, the judge ordered the defendant to carry out 20 rehabilitation sessions.