Car seller punched and kicked

Angry Adam Phillips, 27, tore the nine-carat necklace from Ryjon Donnelly after he refused to return a 70 deposit for the motor he was selling.

Lewes Crown Court heard how Phillips lost his temper after Mr Donnelly sold the car to a friend of the pair.

He punched his victim five to six times to the head before 'kneeing' him three to four times in the wrist in front of shocked partner Caroline Whitehead.

The court was told how Phillips, of Marina, St Leonards, had earlier told Mr Donnelly: "I'm going to attack you. I'm going to hurt your kid.

"I really need the money. I can't stop what's going to happen."

Prosecutor Rupert Hallowes told the court the attack happened on August 17 last year.

He said: "This arose out of an issue between the complainant and the defendant. Mr Donnelly had advertised a car for sale some months previously.

"Phillips had intimated a desire to purchase the vehicle and paid a small deposit.

"As a result Mr Donnelly stopped advertising the vehicle.

"However, some two weeks later he lost contact with the defendant. As a result he decided, having made numerous attempts to contact him, to advertise the car for sale again."

The court heard Phillips later left some 'aggressive' messages on Mr Donnelly's answerphone.

Phillips admitted attempted theft and common assault but a charge of robbery was dropped after prosecutors accepted he never took the chain away.

The court heard he committed the offences in breach of an 18-month conditional discharge for two counts of common assault.

Defending, Alissa Scott-Beckett told the court: "Mr Phillips accepts there were text messages between both parties, but denies sending him text messages saying he would shoot him.

"He accepts his behaviour was not as it should have been and that he lost his temper."

The court heard the necklace could not be found but was later posted back to Mr Donnelly anonymously in February.

Judge Anthony Scott-Gall gave Phillips a two-year conditional discharge and ordered him to pay 300 costs.

He told him: "This assault was an act of feckless behaviour on your part. You lost it and started smacking Mr Donnelly."