A FATHER has been jailed for punching his ex-wife’s partner in the face with a knuckleduster after he saw his victim waiting to collection the children.
Faiyaz Patel saw red and refused to hand over his children after they had spent a weekend with him.
During the confrontation after he had driven the children back to Coventry, his victim used his phone to record Patel with the knuckleduster on his hand.
Yet he denied charges of common assault and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.
He was found guilty of both charges by Coventry magistrates who then committed the case to Warwick Crown Court.
Patel (37) of Holme Drive, Oadby, Leicester, was sentenced to 15 months in prison suspended for two years and was ordered to take part in a rehabilitation activity for 30 days.
Recorder Alastair Smith, who rejected a suggestion that Patel could take part in his supervision via Skype from the United Arab Emirates, where he is currently working, also ordered him to pay £600 compensation to his victim and £340 costs.
Prosecutor Ian Windridge said Patel had weekend contact visits with his children, who live with his ex-wife and her new partner Mohammed Aljabban in the Holbrooks area of Coventry.
On Sunday March 5 it was agreed he would return for them to be collected at an arranged meeting-place in Grangemouth Road, Coventry, at 6pm.
He was expecting his ex-wife to be there to collect them from him, but instead Mr Aljabban was there.
“Mr Patel took exception to that, and he approached Mr Aljabban with some hostility, and he refused to hand over the children,” said Mr Windridge.
The blow with the knucklebuster caused reddening to the cheek, before Patel walked away.
When he was arrested, Patel claimed it has been a piece of foam in his hand that could be viewed on the recording, Mr Windridge added.
Scott Coughtrie, defending, pointed out that a suspended sentence could be imposed without any conditions, which would enable Patel to return to the United Arab Emirates.
But sentencing him, Recorder Smith told Patel: “It was clear to Mr Aljabban you were holding something in your hand. He took the precaution of recording the incident on his phone.
“I have seen stills which show clearly you had a knuckleduster on your right hand, but the injuries to him were mercifully minor.
“You have submitted this was part of a background which had led to increased stress and tension on your part because access through Skype to your children had been limited.
“Knuckledusters may not be as serious as knives or acid, but they are nasty weapons which are easy to conceal and use, but can cause serious harm.”
