A 35 year old cobbler has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment by the Juaso Circuit Court for assaulting an employee of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) who had gone to his house to read meter at Obogu in the Asante-Akim South Municipality.

Kwadwo Opoku who pleaded guilty to assault and causing unlawful damage, attacked the victim, Ofori Awuku, who had gone to the house to read the meter and submit the October 2018 electricity bill to him.

Police Detective Chief Inspector Birikorang Peasah, prosecuting, told the court presided over by Mr. Yusif Assibey that the victim was a meter reader of the ECG stationed at Konongo.

He said on November 8, at about 1430 hours, the complainant was performing his routine duties of reading meters and distributing bills in various houses at Obogu.

The Prosecution said on reaching the house of the convict, complainant recorded the current reading of the meter and placed the October bill by the meter.

He said the convict removed the bill and tore it after which he chased the complainant who had proceeded to the next house.

According to the Prosecution then convict attacked the metre reader without any provocation and snatched 200 copies of bills, 100 copies of reading sheets as well as a Techno S7 mobile phone and threw them on the ground.

Prosecution said the convict continued to assault the complainant who sought refuge at a nearby carpentry shop but the convict would not quit.

He then turned his attention to the shop owner who had opened a room for the complainant to hide in and battled with the carpenter to produce the complainant.

In the process, he caused extensive damage to three wardrobes and 40 bags of sachet water in the shop.

He was however overpowered with the help of other witnesses and was driven out of the place.

Detective Inspector Peasah said the complainant who sustained injuries later reported the matter to the Obogu Police station where he was issued a medical report form to seek treatment.

Accused was later arrested where he admitted the offence in his cautioned statement.