Thug who waved tree branch around during Leeds city-centre brawl thanks courts for locking him up
The 25-year-old was “grateful” for a stint behind bars which he said helped turn his life around.
A man tried to hit others with a tree branch during a “pathetic” brawl in Leeds city centre which had to be broken up by door staff from a nearby bar.
Jordan Hardcastle, 25, admitted a charge of affray and was given a suspended sentence at Leeds Crown Court this week.
But he said he was “grateful” for being briefly locked up on remand, telling the judge: “I want to move on and look after my kids.
“There’s more to life than committing crime. Prison has opened my eyes and made me realise there’s more to life.”
CCTV from the city centre was played to the court which showed a fight between four males, including Hardcastle and his brother.
At one point, Hardcastle disappears, but quickly returns holding the branch, swinging at the two other men as they faced off on Eastgate and then at the top of the steps on Edward Street.
It was only stopped when a bouncer intervened to split them up.
Hardcastle, of Londesboro Grove, Osmondthorpe, has 10 previous convictions for 14 offences.
Mitigating, Kara Frith said there had been “incredible progress” made by Hardcastle.
She said: “He had countless opportunities in the lower courts, but he had never really complied.
“He was grateful for that short period in custody to dry out.
“There’s been no further offending, he is complying with probation and attending Forward Leeds [drug-counselling service]. For him, it’s significant progress.”
She said the branch-swinging attack was out of “misplaced loyalty” to his brother, adding: “He got involved and it all escalated.
“He retreated as soon as soon as he could. He has to take responsibility for the role he played.”
Judge Kate Rayfield described it as a “pathetic scrap” and gave him a 10-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, with five rehabilitation days to complete