Jail for pub attacker who behaved 'like a devil possessed'

Adam Butterworth was already on bail at the time of that violence for an earlier incident when he was involved in "trashing" the kitchen at another person's house, Leeds Crown Court heard.

On November 7 last year he was acting in an aggressive way as soon as he entered the Nag's Head, in Farnley, Leeds, and headbutted one man, Katherine Robinson, prosecuting, told the court.

He continued to act aggressively and was asked to leave by the landlady but refused. He lashed out and picked up a glass which he was prevented from throwing towards Rachel Hunter, the landlady's daughter, by the intervention of Andrew Leak whom he then punched in the face.

Both ended up on the floor and when Butterworth got to his feet first he repeatedly kicked Mr Leak in the head. When Mr Leak's wife went to his aid he grabbed her by the hair and pulled her to the floor.

Miss Robinson said Rachel Hunter tried to reason with Butterworth but he punched her in the face. One witness described him behaving like a complete psycho, like a devil possessed, she said.

When police arrived and arrested Butterworth he continued making threats and headbutted the side of their van.

When he was seen at hospital Mr Leak was found to have a depressed fracture of his cheekbone.

Butterworth, 23 of Whincover Road, Leeds, admitted two charges of affray, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and damage to the police van.

Sentencing him Recorder Alistair Macdonald QC said in the first affray in May last year he and others had burst into a house in Bawn Vale, Farnley and electrical and other items in the kitchen were damaged in a terrifying incident.

After admitting involvement in the incident, Jordan Marshall, 26, of Lynwood Avenue, Leeds was given a nine months prison sentence suspended for two years with 100 hours unpaid work, 12 months supervision and told to attend an anger management programme, while Luke Wilson, 19, of Green View Place, Gipton, was given nine months at a young offender institution suspended for two years with 100 hours unpaid work and 12 months supervision.