Leeds city-centre thug who viciously attacked men later told police: 'They shouldn't have messed with me'
He smashed glass bottle and pursued victims
A thug who picked a fight in Leeds city centre has been jailed after a report found he remains a risk to the public.
Flavio Sanchez lunged at the men in the early hours of the morning and even smashed a bottle to arm himself.
The 36-year-old pleaded guilty to affray and was jailed at Leeds Crown Court this week.
The court heard that Sanchez had been loitering outside Dana Store on New York Street at around 4.15am on May 16 when he “started trouble” with other males.
He launched at a man with a glancing elbow and a punch to the back of neck. He then began to grapple with one of the men.
It was broken up by others but Sanchez pursued them, smashing a bottle on the floor.
One of the victims was knocked unconscious, although the bottle was not used in the attack.
One of the men suffered a broken ankle and a chipped tooth.
Sanchez was arrested around 20 minutes later when he told officers the victims “should not have messed” with him and that he “sent them home”.
He later gave a no-comment interview.
Sanchez, of Colwyn Road, Beeston, has 10 previous convictions for 20 offences including ABH, battery and possession an offensive weapon in public.
He appeared in court over a video link from HMP Leeds where he was being held on remand.
Mitigating, Jeremy Barton said: “He has seen the footage of his behaviour and it’s right to say he is appalled by it.”
He said alcohol and drugs were a factor for Sanchez but claimed he had an insight into their effects.
He said having been in custody for 70 days he has “had a great deal of time to think”.
The judge, Recorder Robert Ward, said he had concerns about the probation report into Sanchez, that he continued to blame the victims and therefore saw him as posing a risk to the public.
He also said he had a history of poor compliance with court orders, so it meant custody was inevitable.
Sanchez was jailed for 20 months.
Recorder Ward told him: “If you continue to commit these offences you will go back to prison again and again and the sentences will increasingly get longer.
“Sort yourself out and get this sentence done.”