A father was punched “several times” in the face in front of his child following a car crash in Birmingham on June 28, 2025. The attacker, Darnell Thompson, 27, was sentenced at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court after admitting the assault.
Details of the incident
Prosecuting, Ms Mehnaz Mallik told the court that the victim was driving his car with a friend in the passenger seat and his six-year-old son in the back. The victim accidentally collided with Thompson’s vehicle while moving through traffic.
Due to language difficulties – the victim struggled with English – the conversation took longer, and Thompson became agitated. Ms Mallik said Thompson threatened to hit the victim if he did not pay £300, then counted to three before punching him multiple times to the face and head. The punches stopped only when a nearby security officer led Thompson away.
Injuries and impact
The victim suffered serious injuries, including swelling and bruising to the face, vision issues, fractures to his eye socket, and a broken nose that required surgery. In a personal statement, he said he became scared for his life and feared losing his job because he could not work. He added that his wife and two children were also scared.
Sentence and compensation
Thompson, of Clarkes Grove, Tipton, received 12 months in custody, reduced to six months, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 300 hours of unpaid work. The court ordered him to pay £4,820 for the eye fracture and £4,820 for the broken nose, totaling £9,640 in compensation.
