AN IPSWICH landlord punched an ex-tenant and smashed the windows of his car after he made off during the night while still owing almost £200.Landlord Anthony Warren is now waiting to be sentenced after admitting assault and criminal damage before South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

AN IPSWICH landlord punched an ex-tenant and smashed the windows of his car after he made off during the night while still owing almost £200.

Landlord Anthony Warren is now waiting to be sentenced after admitting assault and criminal damage before South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Lesla Small described the incident, which took place at about 2.30am on September 25, as an “unprovoked, sustained attack.”

The court heard that 27-year-old Warren swore, asked for the money and then demanded a gold chain from Mohamed El Naggar, as well as the keys to his car.

Warren, who smelled of alcohol at the time, went away but returned and started damaging the Renault Megane.

Miss Small said he caused £474 of damage to the car's side panels and two of its windows.

Mr El Naggar claimed Warren then punched him in the face about 20 times, although a witness said Warren punched him a couple of times with each fist.

Among his injuries were a swollen lip, loose front teeth and a pain in his windpipe.

Roger Stewart, mitigating, said Warren's guilty plea was only made on the basis that there had only been one punch.

He said Warren had previously let out one of the rooms in his Woodbridge Road house to Mr El Naggar, who had started to fall behind with his rent.

One morning in August, Warren awoke to find that Mr El Naggar had moved out overnight.

While Mr El Naggar had promised to pay the £195 still owing, he had left no address and subsequently refused to answer Warren's phone calls or return his messages.

On the day of the assault, Warren had been to a colleague's leaving party at the town's Fire and Ice nightspot.

Mr Stewart said: “He was walking up Upper Orwell Street and chanced to see Mr El Naggar who was standing by his nice car, wearing his gold chains and looking ostensibly wealthy.”

Mr Stewart said Warren swore after Mr El Naggar was dismissive, after which Mr El Naggar called him back and threatened not to pay as Warren had been rude.

He added that Mr El Naggar had been going towards Warren when the punch took place.

Warren, who has no previous convictions, called the police himself.

Another court hearing, known as a Newton hearing, is now set to take place because of the dispute over the number of punches.

Warren was released on unconditional bail and the case was adjourned until Wednesday.