Man, 19, who pistol whipped off-duty police inspector gets eight-year term

Matthew Hunt was driven to Batley by a friend after a report that the man’s brother had been targeted at the party, which had already drawn complaints of noise from neighbours in the vicinity of Mill Hill.

He tried to get inside but was refused entry and walked round the block looking for some of those involved.

Duncan Ritchie, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court Hunt then came across Julie Dent in a back road, who asked him what was happening.

“He told her to ‘butt out” before he punched her in the face and she fell to the ground.”

Mr Ritchie said Miss Dent was then held against a fence and Hunt told her he had a gun. She thought it was an imitation but was scared and screamed for her partner, Mark Chamberlain, an off-duty police inspector who rushed to her aid.

Hunt then put the gun to the side of Mr Chamberlain’s head “gangster style”, repeatedly threatening to shoot him.

Fearing he was going to be killed Mr Chamberlain tried to restrain Hunt by putting him in a bear hug but Hunt pushed him away. He again threatened to shoot him before swinging the gun at him repeatedly hitting him on the face, head and mouth with such force the weapon broke.

He managed to get in to the property through the back garden and threatened some of the girls there with the weapon saying he would shoot them if they called the police.

The court heard Hunt was driven home and was arrested there by armed police. The officer needed stitches in his facial injuries and is permanently scarred.

Khaleeq Zaman, for Hunt said that night he had drowned his sorrows when not allowed access to his child and was genuinely sorry for his out-of-character behaviour.

Hunt, 19, of Batley Road, Heckmondwike admitted possessing an imitation firearm, wounding with intent and common assault and was sentenced to eight years in a young offender institution.