A 62-year-old man hasbeen given a suspended prison sentence after being convicted of grievous bodily harm for knocking a man out of a mobility scooter in Brandon.

Eastern Daily Press: Peter Shea with his wife JanicePeter Shea with his wife Janice (Image: Archant)

Joaquim Cardoso was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment suspended for 24 months and a 12 month supervision order at Ipswich Crown Court this afternoon.

His assault on Peter Shea in Market Hill on September 27 last year had left the 73-year-old victim with a fractured shoulder.

Mr Shea died four days later of unrelated injuries, the court was told at his trial last week.

Cardoso had denied grievous bodily harm but was convicted on July 31.

The incident was preceded a day or two earlier by what appeared to be the theft of a wallet belonging to a man known to Cardoso and Mr Shea.

They were all regulars at the Flintknappers public house in Brandon.

Police were called and Cardoso, of St Mary's Square, Newmarket, agreed to give the man who lost the wallet £80, said Mr Shaw.

That incident provided the backdrop to the assault allegation, the court heard.

At around 5.30pm on September 27 CCTV captured Mr Shea on a mobility scooter driving across a pedestrian area in Brandon.

Cardoso – who is also known by the nickname Kim - was said to have deliberately altered his path and followed Mr Shea.

The jury was told there was an exchange of words between the pair and Mr Shea seemed to be abusing Cardoso, calling him a thief and swearing at him.

Towards the end of the exchange there was an alleged threat to hurt Cardoso.

A number of people witnessed the incident.

One saw Cardoso run up to Mr Shea and push him. The witness then said Cardoso lifted Mr Shea from the scooter.

A third man was then said to have grabbed Cardoso from behind.

The court was told another witness said they saw Cardoso swinging a punch which connected with Mr Shea when he was in the scooter, and it was the punch which caused him to fall to the ground.

Mr Shaw said another bystander saw Cardoso swing his right arm at Mr Shea, who looked to be older than him, while a fourth person also said they saw a punch thrown by Cardoso.