Judge considered football ban for drunk who attacked partner at home after Leeds United parade
A judge considered taking a unique course of action of imposing a football banning order on a fan who attacked his partner at home after they returned from Leeds United’s promotion celebration.
While such orders are reserved for fans who usually cause trouble at the ground, a ban was suggested for Benjamin Haigh for the domestic assault.
Leeds Crown Court heard that the 43-year-old had been with the victim in Leeds for the promotion parade on May 5.
Drinking heavily, they both returned to the victim’s home in Wakefield that night.
Prosecutor Andrew Pickin said she “raised a topic that he took issue with” and he then “switched” and started screaming at her. He grabbed her and began punching her and the kitchen cupboard.
He then went to leave and she followed him, so he turned and grabbed her by the throat and pinned her to the wall.
After around 30 seconds he let go and she dropped to the floor. He then left and she called the police.
Haigh, of Leak Hall Road, Denby Dale, later admitted a charge of strangulation and criminal damage. He has five previous convictions including criminal damage and harassment.
Mitigating, Joe Culley said that Haigh often “does go overboard” when in drink, and that he had been in trouble before for invading the pitch at a football match.
It led to Judge Ray Singh suggesting that a banning order could be passed, given that his drinking is “football related”, and that he had been boozing that day at the Leeds United promotion parade through the city centre which led to his latest offending.
He told Haigh: “You decided to get tanked up and committed offences of violence.”
But having considered his options, he relented and said: “This came very close to me making a banning order. You have already invaded a pitch.”
Referencing the attack on his partner, he said: “Thugs like you think you can lift your hands to a woman and exert your power. As night follows day, you will be likely back before the courts.”
He gave Haigh a 21-month sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered him to complete the Better Choices domestic-violence programme and 15 rehabilitation days.
He also gave him a 90-day alcohol monitoring requirement, meaning an electronic tag will be fitted to his leg that can detect even the tiniest drop of alcohol entering his blood stream.