Two men and a woman from Rhyl who carried out a “vigilante” attack in an off licence have escaped jail.
Connor Bilton was attacked by Adam Finnegan while he was serving at the counter of a Bargain Booze outlet in Rhyl, Mold Crown Court heard.
Finnegan suspected his victim was threatening his daughter, whom the shop worker had been in a relationship with. He grabbed him and punched him in the face.
While Mr Bilton curled up in a ball on the floor he was repeatedly punched and Finnegan’s brother, James Wills, joined in and kicked him in the face “like a football”, said prosecuting barrister Anna Price.
Finnegan pushed a finger into his victim’s eye socket, only removing it when he was bitten.
CCTV footage from the shop also showed Elizabeth Wills was also involved in the attack, which was sparked when Mr Bilton had an argument in a flat with Finnegan’s daughter following their split-up.
Finnegan, 38, of Victoria Avenue; Rhyl; James Wills, 30, of High Street; Rhyl; and Elizabeth Wills, 57, of Meirion Close. Rhyl, all admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm on June 30 last year.
Mr Bilton needed hospital treatment after suffering a collar bone injury and swelling to the right eye.
Finnegan told police he was acting in self-defence and believed his daughter was at “risk of physical harm”.
Judge Niclas Parry suspended the trio’s eight-month prison sentences for 12 months and told them all to complete 80 hours of unpaid work.
The judge said: “This was vigilante action, but you all acted out of character because of loyalty within a family.
“To his credit the victim understands that and life has moved on – he supports you.”
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