Man jailed for Headbutting Work Colleague in Violent Attack

Mehul Lodhia, aged 30, of Leicester, was jailed for 20 months after he headbutted and punched a 64-year-old work colleague.

Leicester Crown Court heard that Lodhia had turned violent on his co-worker at a mobile phone repair and recycling business in Lutterworth in November 2019.

The prosecutor Andrew Vout explained that the victim suffered a broken nose, fractured cheekbone and was left struggling to sleep. He was also coughing up blood days after the attack.

The victim worked on a line repairing mobile phones and had been with the company for 15 years. The company was located on the Magna Park industrial estate.

Lodhia had been there for two years. He was receiving handsets from the victim and taking them to a different department on the afternoon of Friday, November 1, 2019.

However, towards the end of the day, he lost his temper and swore at his work colleague.

Lodhia then headbutted him once and punched him in the head.

Mr Vout explained: “The victim had passed multiple mobile phones to him when the defendant said ‘I’m not your dog’ and walked away.

“The victim was shocked because he’d never had any problems with Mr Lodhia before.

“Lodhia returned a few minutes later and the victim asked ‘why are you shouting at me?’.

“Lodhia replied ‘Don’t talk to me’, swore and then leaned back and headbutted him.

“He quickly followed this up by punching him in the left side of his face with a clenched fist.”

The punch caused the man to fall back “in a lot of pain” and was left “bleeding heavily”.

Lodhia walked away and was later escorted off the premises.

Mr Vout revealed that Lodhia had previous convictions including offences of violence. He was interviewed by police but made no comment.

Lodhia pleaded guilty to GBH at an earlier hearing.

His solicitor Sarah Cornish said: “He had worked with this gentleman without any problems.

“I asked him what was the catalyst for this offence and he said it had been a long week, it was a Friday afternoon and he was stressed.

“He simply lost his temper. He is remorseful and wishes to apologise to the gentleman.

“He has voluntarily paid for private counselling and has attended five sessions, including anger management and how to deal with difficult situations.

“So he’s made attempts to deal with something he realises is a problem.”

Ms Cornish added that her client is keen to use his savings to pay the victim compensation.

Judge Robert Brown told Lodhia: “This was a very forceful headbutt, a blow to this man’s face which not only took him down but also caused injuries – a broken nose and a fracture to his cheekbones.

“He was 64 – double your age – and you would have known that because you were work colleagues.”

“This was a Friday afternoon, after a long week, tempers were fraying and you lost it – you were totally and completely over the top.

“You’ve heard the consequences for the victim, whose confidence has been rocked very substantially.

“I’m not going to suggest you pose an ongoing risk and I do think you are remorseful.

“But this was a mighty blow you delivered with your head and another with your fist.

“I see no reason why the sentence should not be immediate custody.

“You stood in front of a judge barely five years ago for serious violence – you are not a fresh-faced kid for whom this is a first blemish.”

On September 15, 2020, Lodhia was jailed for 20 months.

Leicester Mercury reported that he was banned from contacting his victim for five years.