Cocaine-fuelled thug jailed after chasing terrified revellers with knife and metal bar during New Year celebrations

Wayne Derry was caught on CCTV waving the weapons at members of the public outside The Sawmill Bar on Barnsley Road, South Elmsall, late on December 31 last year.

He was even seen hitting a female with the metal bar and chasing another male along the street.

The 39-year-old appeared at Leeds Crown Court where he admitted a charge of affray and possessing an offensive weapon.

His friend, Kieren Thomas Ellerker, 26, also appeared and admitted a charge of affray.

Neil Coxon, prosecuting, said the footage showed Derry armed with a wheel brace, trying to get at a male stood near the doorway of The Sawmill Bar at around 11.20pm.

Derry was shouting and being aggressive so staff at the bar decided to bring the shutters down despite drinkers still being inside.

At this point Ellerker is with him but was not shown to be getting directly involved.

Minutes later they got into a white Audi, driven by Ellerker, and drove off, but returned minutes later.

Derry then got out and appeared to be holding a metal bar and a knife and was seen aggressively pacing and shouting outside the bar's windows.

Ellerker also got out armed with the wheel brace.

They then got back into the car and drove up Barnsley Road before stopping again, with Derry getting out and heading towards a male and two females brandishing the knife and bar at them.

The male is seen running away and Ellerker tries to block him by mounting the pavement in his Audi.

After giving up the chase, Derry then heads towards the women and strikes one with the metal bar.

The defendants both got back into the vehicle with Derry still shouting and pointing with the weapons as they drove off for the last time.

They were arrested a short time later with Derry claiming he had been in The Sawmill but had "no issues", before being shown the CCTV footage.

Mr Coxon added: "He had no idea why he behaved like that. He did not know the people he was threatening.

"He says he had taken cocaine for the first time and he admitted his actions would have scared people."

Ellerker told police he had been drinking rum and smoking cocaine.

He said he had not threatened anyone and described Derry as "nuts".

The court was told Derry had 25 previous convictions including assault, battery, and ABH which led to him being jailed.

He was also jailed earlier this year for breaching a non-molestation order.

Kate Bisset, for Derry, said the defendants, both of Main Street, Upton, had earlier come across a friend who had been subject to an "attack" before the evening's events, that he was unconscious, which could have contributed to Derry's state of mind that night.

She said her client had shown remorse for the events on New Year's Eve, adding: "For the first time in a long time he expresses his desire to not waste his years in prison. He is, quite frankly, getting too old for this.

"He acted entirely foolishly on that night and deserves to be punished but he hopes for a positive future."

Craig Sutcliffe, for Ellerker, said his client had just one conviction but is under strain because of a close family member who is suffering from terminal cancer.

Judge Rodney Jameson QC jailed Derry for 16 months and said: "You said you came across a friend in an injured condition, there's some scepticism about if that's what this is all about.

"Something must have happened because it's difficult to contribute your behaviour solely on drink and drugs."

Handing Ellerker an eight-month sentence, suspended for a year, he said: "In your case Ellerker, you were largely an observer to what was going on. Your fault is bringing Derry back to scene on more than one occasion."

Ellerker was also handed a six-month driving ban.