A 39-year-old man just avoided jail after admitting an attack on two 15-year-old boys outside his home.
Basildon magistrates heard Michael Leveridge set upon the youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, when he discovered them outside his house in Delhi Road, Pitsea, in January.
He grabbed the teenagers and punched them, causing one of the boys to fall over a wall.
Jewellery worn by Leveridge caused one boy to suffer a minor cut to his chin. The other escaped injury.
Passers-by witnessed the attack and a woman attempted to pull Leveridge off the boys.
Defence solicitor Mark Pearson denied prosecution claims it was an unprovoked attack on two boys.
While Leveridge admitted using unreasonable force, Mr Pearson said he had done so to protect members of his family.
He said Leveridge, whose family have been targeted by vandals in the past, rushed home from work after his stepson called him to say the two victims were banging on the door with a lump of wood.
Magistrates sentenced Leveridge to 18 hours' community service and an 18-month community rehabilitation order.
He was ordered to pay £364 court costs, £100 compensation to one of the victims and £50 to the second boy.
Published Tuesday June 29, 2004
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