Drunk jailed over attack outside Leeds Kirkgate Market

A drunken thug who carried out an unprovoked attack on a disabled woman in Leeds city centre has been sent to prison.
ll
l

Horrified members of the public intervened after Reece Walker delivered an “upper cut” to the victim’s chin during the attack outside the city’s Kirkgate market on December 4 last year.

Walker, 21, was jailed for 20 weeks after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Leeds Crown Court heard the victim, described in court as having special needs, was sitting on a bench outside the market when Walker approached and began shouting abuse. Witnesses described how Walker hit her in the face before delivering a much more forceful punch and threw another punch to her lower body.

Two members of the public intervened and pulled Walker off the victim as he lashed out at them. The woman suffered scratches and bruises to her face. Walker was arrested and later told police that he had drunk a bottle of whisky and had no recollection of the incident. Walker, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Stephen Welford, mitigating, said Walker was in a confused state because of the alcohol he had drunk and wrongly believed the victim had something to do with his bag going missing.

Mr Welford said Walker was homeless at the time of the incident and was not used to drinking.

Jailing Walker, Recorder Tony Kellbrick said: “It was fortunate for her that you were restrained by others who came on to the scene and it is to their credit that they intervened.

“I accept that you had difficulties in your life but anybody who drinks that amount of whisky and behaves in the way that you did can only expect a sentence of imprisonment.”