Drug support worker pushed vulnerable resident down flight of steps and fractured his skull then tried to hide evidence at Reflections House hostel in West Yorkshire

Deon Ballard was jailed for 14-months after a court heard how he attacked the victim outside Reflections House in Castleford then tried to cover up evidence.

Leeds Crown Court was told Ballard was a support worker for the housing association which provides help and support to residents with drug, alcohol and gambling problems.

Katy Varlow, prosecuting, said the victim had been staying at the hostel on Station Road but was evicted due to being under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

The organisation offers specialised treatment to clients in recovery but has a zero-tolerance approach to drugs and alcohol.

Ms Varlow said the victim went to the hostel on on April 6 last year and tried to gain entry to the building but was refused.

The prosecutor said he shouted at other residents and tried to climb a ladder

She added: "He spent three hours making a nuisance of himself during the early hours."

The incident happened after other members of staff woke Ballard to ask him to deal with the situation.

Ms Varlow said: "The complainant did not heed the warning and at 3.30am he knocked on the door again.

"The defendant answered and told the complainant that the police were being called.

"Although being a pain, the complainant was not aggressive or violent and asked to get his mobile phone from inside the hostel."

Ballard told the man: "Get the f*** gone now before I throw you down the f****** stairs."

The victim asked for his phone again and Balled pushed him down a flight of 12 concrete steps outside the hostel.

The attack was captured an CCTV footage, which contained an audio recording of Ballard making the threat, and was played in court.

During that time the defendant cleaned blood up at the scene.

The prosecutor said Ballard gave a "vague account" to paramedics who attended.

The victim was taken into intensive care at hospital after suffering a fracture to his skull, bleeding to his brain and facial injuries.

Ballard, 41, made full admissions about what had happened when police went to the hostel to investigate.

During interview Ballard told officers the victim was his friend and he had never meant to hurt him.

Ms Varlow continued: "He said he did not know his own strength and put it down to bad judgement."

Ballard, of Margaret Street, Immingham, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Ms Varlow said the offence was aggravated because Ballard was in a trusted position when he carried out the attack.

The court heard the victim did not provide a statement to the court and does not support the prosecution.

The victim is taking action in the civil courts.

James Littlehales, mitigating, said Ballard is a former drug addict who had managed to turn his life around with the help of the same hostel.

He said: "Four years ago he realised that he could not continue in that way.

"He paid for his rehabilitation at that same hostel and he became completely free of drugs and turned his life around."

The barrister said the housing association allowed him to work at the hostel and arranged for him to gain qualifications.

He added: "He made very, very substantial efforts to reform himself."

The court heard Ballard had also managed to set up his own building company.

Jailing Ballard, Judge Mushtaq Khokhar said: "It is a sad day for you and your family to be appearing in a Crown court after all the efforts you have made to turn your life around.

"What you did on this particular night was not just foolish behaviour, you were also betraying the trust of those who had put you in that position.

"You realised what had happened and that you were in serious trouble and you tried to conceal as to how that complainant came about his injuries.

"That is not what you would expect from a responsible support worker who is trusted to deal with vulnerable people.

"There could have been real harm done to him. He could have died.

"I am afraid I have a public duty to perform and I am afraid I would not be performing that duty if this offence was not marked with custody."