Sex offender punched man unconscious on dancefloor in Christmas Eve attack at Tunnel nightclub in Leeds

Kane Hutchinson carried out the unprovoked Christmas Eve attack on the victim at the Tunnel club, Heaton's Court.

Leeds Crown Court heard Hutchinson continued the violence along with another man, Jason Burd, after the pair were ejected from the club in the early hours of December 24, 2019.

Andrea Parnham, prosecuting, said Hutchinson threw a series of punches at one male victim inside the club, knocking him to the floor.

The court was played CCTV footage of the incident which took place as the dancefloor was packed with revellers.

Cameras then captured Hutchinson and Burd being violent towards the same man and a second victim outside the club.

Burd started the assault before Hutchinson joined in.

Ms Parnham said one victim suffered bruising to his nose and eye.

The second man suffered a fractured hand. He needed hospital treatment to have his hand placed in a cast.

Hutchinson sent apologetic text messages to both victims the next day offering to compensate them for their injuries.

Both victims provided statements to the court describing how they feared going out in public after the incident.

The victim with the hand injury suffered pain for almost a year after the incident.

Hutchinson, 31, of Bradford Road, Pudsey, pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one of affray.

He has previous convictions for serious sex offences, failing to comply with a notification order and football-related violence.

Burd, 28 , of Manderston Chase, Armley, pleaded guilty to two offences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He has no previous convictions.

His barrister, Rukhshanda Hussain, said: "He tells me that since these offences he has simply stopped going out. He avoids situations that would get him into trouble."

Hutchinson was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He was ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days plus 200 hours of unpaid work.

Hutchinson was also ordered to pay £500 in compensation to his victim plus £500 court costs.

Burd was given a 13-month sentence, suspended for two years, plus 250 hours of unpaid work. He must pay £1,250 in compensation plus £500 costs.

Recorder Mark McKone said: "This was a disgraceful drunken incident in a public place.

"When people fight in a public place, particularly a nightclub, that can lead to a massive disturbance and lead to a lot of people being injured.

"You both could not complain if you were sent to prison."