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Criminal's attack after jail release
A violent 'institutionalised' criminal carried out an attack on a bouncer just a fortnight after being released from a nine-year prison sentence.
Kenneth Fletcher was drunk and aggressive when he approached victim Adam Fawcett at a bus stop in Leeds City centre.
Fletcher, who had been rowing with his girlfriend, demanded Mr Fawcett hand over his Blackberry phone.
The 27-year-old then stripped to his vest and began counting down from 10.
When Mr Fawcett, who was waiting for the last bus home after working as a club doorman, refused to hand over his property Fletcher launched into his attack.
Mr Fawcett was punched and kicked in the assault.
Leeds Crown Court heard the incident happened around midnight on March 6.
On February 19 Fletcher had been released early on licence from a nine-year prison sentence, imposed in 2004, for two attempted robberies.
Fletcher, of no fixed abode, was arrested after the incident and later told officers he had no memory of why he was arrested.
He pleaded guilty to assault.
The court heard Fletcher has previous convictions including racially aggravated assault.
He was recalled to prison immediately after the offence and will not be released until 2013.
Adam Beaumont, mitigating, said Fletcher had problems with drugs and alcohol as well as suffering from anxiety and paranoia.
He had been subjected to physical and emotional abuse as a youngster and it had continued into his adult life.
A report referred to Fletcher as being "institutionalised".
Mr Beaumont said: "He's spent the entirety of his life in care or in prison.
"He has not spent much time outside the prison walls and finds it difficult to cope with the change in environment.
"He hopes when released he will have the support and care necessary to familiarise himself with the surroundings outside of prison."
Judge Kerry Macgill handed Fletcher a two-year jail sentence.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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