Weston plumbing boss pushed man down stairs

A plumbing boss called out to size up a job ended up pushing a man down a flight of stairs, a court heard.

Seth Malik visited the Weston- super-Mare business and was asked to look at work needed in the flat above, Bristol Crown Court heard yesterday.

When tenant Malcolm Blackman thought he was being evicted an argument ensued, which resulted in Malik losing his temper and shoving him down the stairs, fracturing his back.

Later Malik phoned Mr Blackman, apologised, and offered him some money – but the call was reported to police.

Malik, 31, of South Road, Brean, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm and was convicted by a jury of doing an act intending to pervert the course of justice.

Handing him a 52-week jail term, suspended for two years, Judge Neil Ford QC told him he recognised Malik had been described as a hard-working man and good employer.

He told him: "An immediate custodial sentence would be for a relatively short time and then you would come out with no business or work and you would have to start again. I've been persuaded to take a more constructive course. You're a lucky man; most judges would not give you this opportunity."

Malik was ordered to carry out 150 hours' unpaid work and undergo two years' supervision in which he must go on an anger replacement treatment programme.

He was told to pay £750 compensation to his victim and £1,000 prosecution costs within three months.

Summing up the case, the judge said when Mr Blackman saw Malik, two workmen and his landlady he thought they were about to carry out a forced eviction.

The judge said: "I accept you were not there for that purpose. Mr Blackman and his landlady began to argue. As you accept, you lost your temper and it was said that you pushed Mr Blackman down a flight of stairs.

"It became clear in the course of the case that you had pushed him down a small fight of five carpeted stairs. You caused him to fall down and as a result he suffered a fracture to his back."

The court heard Malik had offered a guilty plea to causing actual bodily, but became frustrated when that wasn't accepted and called his victim.

Robin Shellard, defending, told the court his client was a hard-working, industrious man who employed six people.

The court heard Malik gave financial support both to his mother and children and violence was extremely out of character for him.