A court heard how the attack ‘involved multiple blows’
Renars Rutenbergs admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm(Image: Hull Live)
A heated argument about money owed for a vehicle suddenly turned violent when a drunken Hull troublemaker started punching an unsuspecting man in a “cowardly, gratuitous attack”. The victim’s head was hit against a wall and he fell to the floor before the attacker jumped on him.
The vicious beating continued until a third person intervened and the victim hurriedly managed to escape, Hull Crown Court heard. Renars Rutenbergs, 50, of Worthing Street, off Clough Road, Hull, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on the other man on August 28, 2022.
Jazmine Lee, prosecuting, said that the man bought a vehicle from Rutenbergs in May 2022 and made payment in instalments. Rutenbergs, however, contacted him and questioned whether full payment had been made.
To try to resolve the matter, the man turned up at the home of Rutenbergs and there was a discussion about payment for the vehicle. “The defendant was in drink at the time,” said Miss Lee.
“Suddenly, without warning, the defendant punched him to the face – clearly the discussion having escalated. The punch caused his head to hit a wall. He fell to the floor.”
Rutenbergs jumped on the man with his knees while the victim was on the floor. The weight of Rutenbergs meant that the man could not breathe and he was in significant pain.
Rutenbergs repeatedly hit the man while he was on top of him. Another man who was on the scene intervened and this gave the victim time to escape. “For the next two days, he suffered pain,” said Miss Lee.
The man went to Hull Royal Infirmary and a CT scan showed that he had a left-side rib fracture and a left lung collapse. He was offered physiotherapy.
The man later said that he was now afraid of people in the street and that he would turn round and want to go home. He suffered anxiety attacks and was still unable to lift heavy loads.
He was unable to sleep on his side or work properly. Rutenbergs had a previous conviction for drink-driving in 2022. He was helped in court by a Russian-speaking interpreter.
Hannah Turner, mitigating, said that Rutenbergs pleaded guilty ahead of a scheduled trial. “He is unlikely to trouble the courts again,” said Miss Turner. “This is an isolated incident in which they had a disagreement.”
Judge John Thackray KC told Rutenbergs: “This was a cowardly, gratuitous attack upon your victim. It involved multiple blows. You caused his head to hit a wall. He fell to the floor and you jumped on him.
“Your offending has had a profound effect upon your victim. The physical injuries were bad enough but they could have been so much worse.”
Rutenbergs was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence, a six-month 9pm to 6am curfew and 15 days’ rehabilitation. He was given a three-year restraining order and he must pay a £187 victims’ surcharge.
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