A thug said he was looking for 'opposition' when he launched a revenge attack on a lone man. Jaziah Thompson said he was looking for "opps" - which the victim believed meant "opposition", Nottingham Crown Court heard.
Thompson assaulted him in an alleyway after they came across each other outside the Nationwide bank in Bridge Street, Worksop, on February 15 this year. CCTV was played in court as Thompson was handed a 12-month community order, a "thinking skills programme" and 20 rehabilitation days.
The footage showed Thompson headbutting the man, punching him in the face, striking him with a knee, then more punches. He forced him to the ground and appeared to be stamping on him, leaving him bleeding from cuts around his eye.
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Thompson pleaded guilty to assault, causing bodily harm, adding to his 14 convictions for 21 offences - nine of which were against the person previously. And they included multiple previous convictions for battery.
This offence was a "revenge attack", the defendant had disclosed, but the victim disputed he had assaulted him before. Mitigating, Hal Ewing stressed the assault lasted one-and-a-half minutes and was not prolonged.
His client, who is aged 24 and of Potter Street, Worksop, was assaulted last October, and he believed this victim was one of those responsible, the court was told.
Thompson has a "sad background", added Mr Ewing. He ended up in a care home at just 14 years of age. There was no counselling or psychological counselling.
A week before this incident he was living on the streets after losing his accommodation at the YMCA - but had now done the equivalent of just over 18 months in custody (the starting point for this offence was 18 months), which is why he was spared jail.
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