Furious dad punched another in parking row outside Leeds school during pick-up

A dad who punched and grappled with another as they picked their children up from school has avoided being locked up.

Altaf Hussain later said he was “ashamed and embarrassed” by his behaviour as terrified children and other parents watched the attack.

The 41-year-old, who has previous convictions for violence, admitted a charge of affray and appeared at Leeds Crown Court for sentencing.

Prosecutor Zanisha Herbert said the incident occurred shortly after 3pm on March 4 last year.

Hussain had been reversing to park outside the school when another dad thought Hussain was about to reverse into him, so beeped his horn.

Hussain parked up and got out, but began to shout at the other man, asking him “what his problem was”.

He began to push and shove the man but members of the public stepped in to stop it going any further.

Hussain returned to his vehicle and moved his car, but then got out and attacked the other dad, while the man’s children were present.

He began to punch him and “grappled” with him until again, others intervened.

Hussain, of Shepherds Place, Chapeltown, was later arrested and claimed the other father had been the aggressor.

Mitigating, Becky Jane said: “He holds his hands up and speaks of his embarrassment and shame, particularly having to go back to the school.

“He now parks around the corner. He is conscious there were people there who witnessed the incident.

“He said it should not have happened, it was completely needless.”

Hussain owns a car valeting business, and was living with a friend after his marriage of 11 years broke up.

He has nine previous convictions for 21 offences, including battery, ABH and public disorder.

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The judge, Recorder Catherine Silverton told him: “You have a long-term issue with controlling your temper.

“There were children present and it happened outside a school. I’m told you are embarrassed and ashamed by your behaviour, as you should be.”

She gave him a six-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, with 100 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation days to complete with probation.