THREE Bulgarian men have been fined after they assaulted a man in Welshpool over claims of harassment of them and their families.

Teodor Ivanov, 25, Lilian Kirov, 36, and Krasimir Krumov, 49, all jointly assaulted Thomas Richards on February 16, chasing him down the street in Welshpool after he had repeatedly turned up at an address where two of them lived and caused a disturbance.

The trio previously pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Richards as well as using threatening behaviour towards him.

Prosecutor Rhian Jackson told Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, July 16, that Ivanov called police when Mr Richards showed up three times at his High Street address looking for a man he did not know and who did not live there.

“The victim attended Teodor Ivanov’s home on 3 occasions on February 15 looking for a male called ‘Mickey’,” said Ms Jackson.

“He was knocking on his door, causing a disturbance. Mr Ivanov called the police, but the victim had left when they arrived.

“On his last attendance, he was followed by the three defendants and CCTV showed them running after him down the street.

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“At one point Mr Richards is seen to cover his head with his arm and Teodor Ivanov and Lilian Kirov strike him with multiple blows to his head and torso. Krasimir Krumov also strikes him multiple times.

“Mr Richards falls to the pavement and Ivanov and Kirov kick him multiple times. The three defendants walk away, leaving him lying on pavement.”

Footage captured the three males returning and further assaulting Mr Richards, which included stamping on him, kicks to the head, face and groin.

Ms Jackson said another male walking by was chased off before a woman led the defendants away.

Ivanov was said to have called the police again and is seen in the footage flagging them down.

PCs Owen and Hewitt described Mr Richards as conscious and he had a small amount of blood on his lip. They took him to hospital, although he would later get a taxi home when he was told there was an eight-hour wait.

All three men were arrested and Ivanov told police he took the course of action he did because he thought Mr Richards was going to hurt his family.

“He said the victim threw an energy drink can through a window, which landed on the very spot where his baby had been two minutes earlier,” said Ms Jackson.

“He called police and Mr Richards returned again; he was banging on the door at 1am and screaming, which frightened the children.

“He followed the victim out and went with the others as he was scared. He went to pick Mr Kirov up (from Oswestry).

“He accepts he kicked Mr Richards two or three times, but there was no force. He said he wanted to apprehend him.

“He said anyone in his position would have done the same. He was thinking Mr Richards had hurt his family. He wanted him to stop as he was tormenting the children.”

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Rob Hanratty, defending the trio, said: “None of them have any previous convictions; they are hard working men who are dedicated to their families.

“Their behaviour when they caught up with Mr Richards is what they’ll be sentenced for, but it’s important not to ignore his behaviour leading up to that.

“He appears to have been very heavily under the influence of alcohol. He had been persistently harassing these men.

“He was demanding to see someone who didn’t reside there and was not there. Not being satisfied with being told this person was not there, he returned on several occasions.

“He was aggressive and at one time threw a can through the window, which alerted the men as there was a small baby present.

“Our advice to everyone being harassed is to ring the police, and they were contacted on four occasions.”

 

Mr Hanratty added: “They set off with a view to deter him from harassing their family, but unfortunately when he fell to the floor punches and kicks were delivered.

“There is nothing to suggest the injuries were anything other than minor.”

Ivanov and Krumov, both of High Street, were each fined £583 and told to pay a £233 surcharge and £85 costs.

Kirov, of Princes Street, Oswestry, was fined £200 and will pay an £80 surcharge and £85 costs.

Magistrates ordered no separate penalty for threatening behaviour and there will be no compensation paid to Mr Richards.