Town’s notorious ‘Mr Big’ punched innocent man in the face after he complained about his wife parking her Porsche on double yellow lines, court hears
- Ben Haworth-Booth took photographs of Porsche parked on double yellow lines
- The car’s driver Rachel Parland called ex-gangster husband to sort disagreement
- John Gizzi, 49, tracked down Mr Haworth-Booth and punched him in the face
John Gizzi, 49, was found guilty of the assault by Deputy District Judge Andrew Webb at Llandudno magistrates court, Conwy, Wales
A notorious ‘Mr Big’ punched a man in the face after he complained that his wife had parked her Porsche on double-yellow lines.
Ben Haworth-Booth took photographs of the Porsche parked illegally in a town centre near St Asaph, North Wales, unaware the car’s driver was the wife of the ex-gangster John Gizzi.
The court heard how Rachel Parland rang her husband Gizzi, 49, to sort it out the disagreement, before shouting at Mr Haworth-Booth: ‘You’ll be sorry when you find out who my husband is’.
Gizzi then tracked Mr Haworth-Booth down before putting him in a headlock and punching his face.
Mr Haworth-Booth told the court: ‘His chest was all puffed out and his arms were swinging. He said: “You’ve upset my wife. You’ve been bullying my wife.”
‘He told me he was John Gizzi. I was really scared. I know who John Gizzi is and his reputation.
‘Everyone knows John Gizzi. He’s in the paper all the time.’
Ben Haworth-Booth (pictured) took photographs of the Porsche parked illegally in a town centre near St Asaph, North Wales, unaware the car’s driver was the wife of John Gizzi, 49
Mr Haworth-Booth said he feared for his life and could be heard shouting “Help! Help! Help!” as he recorded the attack on his phone.
Adam Warner, prosecuting, said: ‘Gizzi accused Mr Haworth-Booth of calling him a wife-beater, a drug dealer and an ape.
‘Gizzi punched Mr Haworth-Booth, damaged his glasses and got him in a headlock.’
Cocaine trafficker Gizzi, known as ‘Rhyl’s Mr Big’ was jailed in 2006 for beating up two homeless men with wooden staves.
He was released after three years of a five-and-a-half year sentence.
Gizzi, of St Asaph, denied the assault on Mr Haworth-Booth and criminal damage in July. Pictured with wife Rachel Parland
Gizzi was found guilty by Deputy District Judge Andrew Webb at Llandudno magistrates court and will be sentenced next month
But in 2011 he was jailed for 11 years after admitting conspiring to bring cocaine into Wales.
His nine-strong gang were locked up for a total of 66 years.
Gizzi, of St Asaph, denied the assault on Mr Haworth-Booth and criminal damage in July.
But he was found guilty by Deputy District Judge Andrew Webb at Llandudno magistrates court.
He will be sentenced next month.