Wakefield thug jailed over attack in seaside bar toilets
A thug hurled homophobic abuse at a man in the toilets of a seaside bar as he repeatedly kicked, punched and stamped on him.
Josh Walsh attacked the victim at the venue in Cleethorpes in September of last year.
But while under investigation, he then went on to attack a man in the street in an unprovoked assault, before stealing his wallet.
Walsh was jailed at Leeds Crown Court this week after admitting ABH, criminal damage, assault and theft from a person.
The court heard that Walsh had been on a night out in Cleethorpes on September 1 last year when he went into the toilets.
Words were exchanged between himself and a man and Walsh launched at him, punching him to the face and head, before stamping on him.
He was shouting homophobic slurs at the man, who suffered bruising and abrasions.
Then on April 1 this year, at around 3am in South Elmsall, he approached a man in the street and asked if he had a cigarette.
The man said he didn’t have any so continued walking, but could sense Walsh still walking behind him.
In fear, the man began to speed up and then run, but was pursued by Walsh who caught up with him and began punching him to the head and body and kicking him to the ribs.
He then reached inside the stricken man’s pockets and took his keys and wallet.
The victim was able to get to his feet and fled again, pursued by Walsh, who pushed him against a fence and continued to attack him until a member of the public intervened.
Walsh, of Pennine View, Upton, Pontefract, has 29 previous convictions, including four for violence and 19 for theft.
In mitigation, Samreen Akhtar conceded Walsh had an “appalling record” but said he accepted he “lashed out” during the Cleethorpes attack.
The judge, Recorder Brian Whitehead jailed him for 31 months in total - 27 months for the toilet attack, and four consecutive months for the street assault.