Thug attacked dad watching Leeds United's play off semi-final on TV at social club

Jamie Balmforth, 44, shoved his 39-year-old victim in the back before throwing punches at him during the incident at Sheepscar Bar and Grill just after 9pm on May 15 2019, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Balmforth's victim, who worked as a carpet fitter, suffered a badly broken right leg which led to a condition called complex regional pain syndrome and he has been unable to return to work since the attack, which was caught on CCTV.

The court heard Balmforth attacked the man - who was stood up watching the match - after he stumbled into the chair of an elderly man who was sitting at Balmforth's table.

Stephanie Hancock, prosecuting, said: "He described that he was immediately in significant pain to his right leg.

"He shouted out that the defendant had snapped his leg."

The man was taken by ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary, where he was diagnosed with a complex fracture of his right tibia.

He spent three days on the major trauma unit and had to undergo surgery to fit an external metal cage with pins in his leg.

The victim had to be re-admitted to hospital on June 5 2019 and spent three more days as an inpatient and was later told he is suffering from complex regional pain syndrome.

Miss Hancock said the father-of-three said in his victim personal statement that the long-term pain has left him unfit to work as a carpet fitter until at least April.

He said he can barely leave his house and even on his best days can only make it to the garden to watch his children play.

Miss Hancock said he feels his role as the provider and protector of his family has been taken from him and he feels a burden to his wife and like a prisoner in his own home.

Miss Hancock said the man wrote: "The thought of going out to public places again fills me with anxiety and stress."

Father-of-two Balmforth, of Back Holywell Lane, Shadwell, was jailed for 13-months after he admitted causing grievous bodily harm.

He has 31 previous convictions for 62 offences, including battery.

Probation officer Mick Berry said Balmforth admits he has a problem with alcohol, which he uses to self medicate due to problems with depression and anxiety.

Becky Jane, mitigating, said Balmforth acted after seeing the man bump into the elderly man at his table.

She said it is unclear if any of Balmforth's punches connected with the victim.

Miss Jane said: "He acted out of all proportion and entirely overreacted. He said he regretted it immediately.

"He is very sorry for his actions on that day and the impact on the complainant."

Jailing Balmforth, Recorder David Gordon told him: "This clearly must have been a shocking incident for people in that crowded social club where this occurred.

"They had to witness this extremely unpleasant incident unfolding before them."

Balmforth was also made subject to an exclusion order banning him from The Sheepscar Bar and Grill for two years.