[Orior]

I met a guy at a party (X) at the weekend who is due in court in a few weeks on a charge of assault. He’s self employed, no criminal record and has never been in trouble with the police. Mr X runs his business out of his garage and would often find the exit blocked by neighbour Y. Mr X called over to Mr Y and asked him to desist from parking in front of his garage. Mr Y has a reputation for violence and he’s known to the police. He has at least one “stay away” order against him after he was caught breaking the windows of another neighbour.

Anyway, one day, Mr X was working in his garage at a vehicle when he heard someone come up behind him and put their hands around his neck. As he was being strangled, Mr X hit out with a spanner he had in his hand, and injured Mr Y. The two of them then traded punches before Mr X went and phoned the police.

The police came and arrested both parties then released Mr Y, but kept Mr X in overnight (presumably because Mr Y had more injuries than Mr X. That same night someone scrapped a screwdriver along Mr X’s car and he had his windows smashed in.

I worry that Mr X may be sent to jail for defending himself in his own property from a bully and a thug. Any ideas of a good defence? What are his chances? Is it okay to discuss this sort of thing without affecting the court case?