'Disgraceful' thug punched and kicked Otley Run fancy-dress drinkers after hat theft

Bricklayer Mark Gerraghty attacked two members of the group on Albion Street as they made their way along the famous pub crawl.

Enjoyed by students, it groups regularly dressing up for the occasion, bidding to complete the 17-pub venture.

Gerraghty had also been out with friends on the evening of August 26 last year when the two groups crossed each other’s paths, prosecutor Carmel Pearson told Leeds Crown Court.

The 23-year-old first stole a fancy-dress hat from one man, and then began punching him to the face, landing five blows and knocking him to the floor. He then kicked him in the head.

A friend of the victim tried to intervene but he too was set upon by Gerraghty and another male. The second victim was punched to the face and when he tumbled, he was also kicked to the face.

Two nearby door staff members rushed over to halt the attack and Gerraghty and his accomplice left the scene. Police happened to be nearby and they were able to quickly track down Gerraghty and arrest him. He was found to have a quantity of cocaine in his sock.

Gerraghty, of Fairfax Avenue, Drighlington, later admitted two counts of ABH and possession of a Class A drug.

The first victim in the attack suffered a broken eye socket and nose.

Mitigating for Gerraghty, Andrew Petterson said he helped as a carer for his disabled brother and that he had a “limited” criminal record, with offences only recorded against him as a youth.

He said he had “held his hands up” over the incident.

The judge, Recorder Ashley Serr said: “These [victims] were simply out for a good time and your attack was particularly vicious and unprovoked.

“Your behaviour that night was disgraceful and was driven by alcohol, drugs and anger.”

He is a bricklayer who had never worked and was a heavy cannabis user, but Recorder Serr conceded that Gerraghty had ADHD and dyslexia.

He gave him a nine-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, 25 rehabilitation days, gave him a 120-day alcohol abstinence requirement and ordered him to pay £400 compensation.