Builder faces eviction after hitting gas man he believed to be intruder
A builder who punched a gas man he believed was an intruder in his home is facing eviction.
Geoff Jones admits he 'put one on' the engineer David Yates from PH Jones, who made a call to his house in Warren Close, Cannock.
Jones, aged 59, was fined £100 and ordered to pay £200 in compensation to Mr Yates, who called round on behalf of Cannock Chase Council, after being convicted of assault.
Jones says he has also been told he and his wife Carol will be evicted from their 35-year home following the attack on January 23.
But Jones has defended the assault.
He claims Mr Yates, who called at the house at 8.30am, had no visible identification and did not park his van in view.
He also claims the council did not inform him or his wife that anyone was coming out.
He said: "I thought he was an intruder.
"A couple of years ago my mother got duped by two people, while one spoke to her at the door the other was rifling through the house and got away with £750.
"That is always in the back of my mind."
Eight years ago, Jones suffered a brain haemorrhage and has since had to live with various health issues. He says he struggles to sleep and has high levels of anxiety.
At a hearing at Cannock Magistrates Court, he admitted assaulting Mr Yates.
Mr Paul Lamb, defending, told the hearing Jones' claimed Mr Yates stepped in the house after his wife opened the door.
Mr Lamb then said Jones pushed Mr Yates from the property before punching him to the face.
After the hearing, Jones said: "He came to the door I didn't know who he was.
"I thought he was an intruder he tried to cross the threshold (doorway) so I put two hands on his chest and pushed him back.
"He lunged forward so I put one on him."
He was handed a 12 month community order which includes supervision by the probation service.
He was fined and told to pay a further £85 in costs, a £60 victim surcharge.
Jones said Cannock Chase Council told him assault breached his tenancy agreement, although he disputes ever signing such a document.
A letter to the couple, sent by the council, said the tenancy agreement states that the tenants agree not to threaten, intimidate, harass, cause alarm or distress or carry out any violent act against council employees, agents or contractors.
It said: "The council is currently investigating the matter in conjunction with the police and are in a position to seek legal action to recover possession of your home because of this incident."
A council spokesman Darren Edwards said: "The matter is currently under investigation and the council is deciding on what course of action is going to be taken."
