“You’re not getting out of here alive” - Pub attacker spared jail

Leeds Crown Court heard Paul Cunnington, from Burnleys Mill Road, lost his temper when he saw a former lover with her new boyfriend in the Obediah Brooke on June 7, also assaulting the pub manager and attempting to bite a policeman.

After noticing Peter Naylor in the pub with former partner Miss Banton, Cunnington approached the two and went into an expletive-laden rant, in which he said to Mr Naylor: “I am going to kill you, get outside now.”

He then made a gesture to Naylor, running a finger across his throat, before adding: “You’re not getting out of here alive.”

Cunnington, 41, proceeded to throw a bottle, which struck Naylor on the bridge of his nose.

He then punched Banton, before ripping her top as he dragged her across the floor. He then wrestled Naylor to the ground, before Naylor punched him in self-defence.

Bar manager Phil Smith told Cunnington he was ringing the police and ushered him outside, before Cunnington hurled further expletives at him. The defendant re-entered the pub, threw a menu board at Banton and attempted to start another fight.

Police arrived and attempted to restrain Cunnington, who then resisted arrest, attempting to bite one of the officers.

Mitigating for Cunnington, Nadim Bashir argued that injuries sustained by Naylor, Banton and Smith were minor, adding: “There can be no excuse and explanation for what he did – he saw red mist.”

Cunnington was sentenced for common assault and resisting a police officer to four months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, with a supervised community order. He was also made to pay substantial court and compensation costs, which added up to £1,535.

Sentencing Cunnington, judge Geoffrey Marson QC said: “Your behaviour was outrageous. You were threatening to kill them, threw a bottle and punched the barman who was trying to stop you from behaving in this way.”