'˜I had to get moved away '“ customers stopped coming' '“ businessman's nightmare at the hand's of menace

The 28-year-old suffered another setback just as he thought he was starting to move on, having secured new shop premises in December.

He said: “I have been doing everything I can just to get by.

“I’m up to my eyes in debt because I had to get the money together for a deposit on a new premises.

“To try to keep the business going, I had to get moved away from him, because my customers stopped coming.

“People didn’t know whether he was on the drink or not when they saw him.

“He used to swear at them and stand there staring them out.

“He was just really nasty to the customers and made everyone stop coming in.”

Now Mr Jones is working hard to build his customer base back up and encourage them back to Home from Home, now based in Villette Road, Hendon.

“I’m just having to try and build the business back up,” he said.

“When I moved I thought it was over and done with, that I could put it behind us.

“But it kicked off again. I don’t know where he came from.

“It was the first time he’s assaulted me.

“I was upset and annoyed at the same time. I just don’t know why he has targeted me. I just had a shop.

“When he swung for me again – his arm was up again – I hit him back.

“I didn’t hit him hard, but he fell back, probably due to drink more than anything. I used that opportunity to get away from him.”