Taxi Driver Online

A grandfather who assaulted a burglar has claimed his actions were "justified" and he did it to protect his family.

But Kenneth O'Loughlin has said he is not proud of what he did and expressed remorse that the man was hurt.

O'Loughlin, a taxi driver, spent two weeks in prison after attacking Paul Coultas.

The thief made off with coats, thought to be filled with mobile phones and wallets, from a party in west Hull on December 27.


O'Loughlin, 50, of Cottingham Road, west Hull, admitted punching Coultas four or five times and dragging him to the kerb.

But he claimed he only did what anyone else would have done in those circumstances and does not regret his actions.

After the assault Coultas, 27, was taken to hospital and spent time in an intensive care unit.

In May, Coutlas was sentenced to 12 months in prison for handling stolen goods.

Following the incident, O'Loughlin was arrested, charged with grievous bodily harm and kept in custody for a fortnight.

Throughout, he has been supported by his daughter Cerise and four sons, Daniel, Ross, Kenny and James.

He said: "I was in prison for two weeks over the Christmas period which was horrible.

"While I was queuing up for my diabetes tablets I was stood next to drug addicts waiting for their methadone.

"When I was released on bail I had to be in the house from 10pm until 8am, which meant I couldn't work.

"Only after five months were my bail conditions changed so I could work Friday and Saturday nights."

O'Loughlin claimed Coultas had threatened him and his family.

He said: "He was provoking me and said he was going to come back and burn the house down.

"I was worried about my daughter Cerise and my five-year-old granddaughter Grace.

"I hate to think what he would have done to me if I was an older man.

"He is a piece of cr**.

"I dragged him to the side of the road because a car was coming. I didn't want him to get run over and die, but I dragged him as I wasn't going to be nice with him."

Asked by the Mail if he would do it again, O'Loughlin replied: "Yes, definitely.

"I only had a few seconds to think, but I don't regret any of it.

"I think what I did was justified to do. He won't be coming back to the house again.

"I probably wouldn't hurt him as much though. I am sorry he got badly hurt but I wasn't going to let him hurt me or my family."

Last week, O'Loughlin appeared at Doncaster Crown Court, where he admitted a section 20 assault charge.

He was given a 36-month prison suspended prison sentence.

David Gordon, prosecuting, told the court Coultas has a history of burglary, handling stolen goods, possession of drugs and crimes related to heroin addiction.

On the night of the burglary, O'Loughlin had been attending a party with friends at a house he owns in De Grey Street.

One of the friends who left the party to visit a shop spotted Coutas walking along the street carrying a pile of coats.

O'Loughlin was caught on CCTV camera attacking Coultas.

In sentencing Mr O'Loughlin, Recorder Watson QC said: "I have no doubt you were provoked to lose your temper.

"That said, you took the law into your own hands and attacked in a way which was grossly disproportionate to the provocation."