Man smashes broom handle over housemate's head because he turned the central heating on

A drunken man smashed a broom handle over his housemate's head during a row about having the heating on.

Saman Hasan had turned the boiler off in three-bedroom house he shared in Tudor Road, Black Friars, Leicester.

But his housemate, who was suffering with flu symptoms, turned it back on to warm up his bedroom.

Hasan was said to have been drunk when attacked his housemate, a fellow Syrian refugee, in the kitchen on the night of Thursday May 10.

What happened during the row?

Jonathan Dunne, prosecuting at Leicester Crown Court, said: "A verbal argument proceeded into a physical row, during which the defendant reached for a wooden stick that was to hand, a broom handle, and hit the complainant over the head with it, breaking it into three pieces.

"In his interview with the police, the defendant accepted he lost control and couldn't say how many times he'd struck him.

"The complainant blacked out and the defendant, with help from a friend, carried him upstairs to his room.

"When he came round, the complainant called the police."

At hospital the victim underwent a CT scan to establish he was not seriously injured.

He suffered a bruised scalp and was released later the same day.

What happened in court?

The 26-year-old defendant claimed he had only turned the boiler off because there was a problem with regulating the temperature.

Hasan admitted causing actual bodily harm at a hearing at Leicester Crown Court.

Before sentencing the victim sent a message to the judge saying he bore no ill will towards his assailant and had forgiven him.

Instead of locking 26-year-old Hasan up, Judge Ebraham Mooncey imposed a community order with unpaid work.

Mr Dunne told the court: "The victim no longer lives in the same place and he wishes the court to know he has forgiven the defendant and takes the view that everyone is entitled to make a mistake in life.

"He said that Eid is fast approaching and specifically asked me to say to Your Honour that he didn't bear the defendant any ill will."

What did the judge say?

Judge Ebraham Mooncey said: "That's an unusual victim impact statement, although I also have to rely on the general interest of the public.

"I take into account the injury had no lasting repercussions and the victim's attitude speaks for itself."

Sentencing Hasan, the judge said: "The victim's statement is one of forgiveness.

"There was some bruising to his head.

"In drink you attacked him and don't fully appreciate how far your attack went.

"The injury could have been much worse.

"You have already had a taste of custody, when on remand for seven weeks before being granted bail.

"That, no doubt, was a salutary lesson for you."

Hasan, who admitted causing actual bodily harm, was sentenced to a 12 month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay £300 prosecution costs by the end of the year.

What was said in defence of Hasan?

Philip Gibbs, mitigating, said: "The defendant has no previous convicitons.

"Fortunately the injury was not lasting.

"The defendant was receiving a subsistence allowance until he was remanded into custody and since his release he's been financially supported by a friend.

"He's not allowed to work and his income will be limited until his status in this country is fully ironed out."

Hasan has a meeting scheduled with the Home Office later this month, said Mr Gibbs.