Derbyshire man headbutted contractor’s car over “affair” with his wife

Colin Phillips, 44, “shattered” a door mirror and kicked and punched the scared motorist’s vehicle while shouting “I will f****** kill you” during the chance encounter in Alfreton.

Chesterfield Magistrates Court heard the victim had not seen or heard from Phillips since 2017 when he had been contracted to do some fencing work.

Two weeks after the work had been completed the defendant had sent a message to the complainant saying “I will kill you – you’ve been s******* my missus”.

Prosecutor Becky Allsop described how after spotting the same workman in a queue of traffic in Alfreton on May 19 this year Phillips pulled up in his black Range Rover.

She said: “He was shouting and screaming “I will f****** kill you. He punched the offside door window and the rear window and kicked the door in a fit of rage.

"He used his fists on the offside mirror, causing it to shatter and break off and headbutted the offside window.

"(The victim) said ‘he was full of anger towards me’ – there was a female with Mr Phillips shouting at him to get back in the car. He got in and drove off.”

Ms Allsop added that during a police interview the victim said he had done some fencing work for Phillips in 2017.

She said: “Two weeks after completing the work he received messages from Mr Phillips making threats and saying ‘you’ve been s******* my missus’.

Phillips’ solicitor David Gittins told the court: “The victim had an affair with this gentleman’s wife – that led to a breakdown of the marriage for 10 months.

"There has been no contact since 2017, it was a chance meeting.”

Mr Gittins said the affair had been confirmed by Phillips’ wife, who was present in court.

Phillips, of Tennyson Street, Alfreton, admitted threatening behaviour and criminal damage.

District Judge Andrew Davison told him: “Your outburst was disgraceful – in any event a period of nearly five years had gone by since what your wife says happened.”

The defendant was handed 12 weeks jail suspended for 12 months, 15 rehabilitation activity days and ordered to pay £460 compensation.