Leeds bouncer jailed for rendering victim '˜senseless' in pavement attack
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
Marcus Saleh was jailed for two years after a judge watched CCTV footage of him rendering the victim “senseless” in the attack.
Salah, 23, was working as a bouncer at Smokestack, on Briggate, when he attacked the victim on July 20 this year.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdLeeds Crown Court was shown footage of the incident in which Salah was seen to punch the victim several times in a stand-off which last around around three minutes.
He then knocked the victim to the ground before kicking him to the side of the head.
A court heard that onlookers were shocked at the level brutality used powerfully-built Salah.
Jonathan Sharp, prosecuting, described how the incident took place after the victim challenged Salah when he caught him sitting on his mountain bike which was chained up outside the bar.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSalah had also been “twiddling” with the peddles as he chatted to two woman.
The victim, who had not been drinking in Smokestack but had been to a different pub, remonstrated with Saleh but the doorman refused to apologised.
Mr Sharp said: “The complainant’s recollection is that he asked the defendant whether his mother had not taught him some respect for others’ property.”
The court heard Saleh’s account was that the victim swore and racially abused him.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe footage showed Saleh punching the victim before squaring up to him as as the victim backed away.
Salah attacked the man again as the victim tried to unchain the bike.
The footage also shows Saleh putting the victim in the recovery position and using his phone to contact police when he realised he caused serious injury.
Another man who witnessed the assault also dialled 999.
The prosecutor said: “He described the kick as unprovoked. He was shocked at the brutality of the attack, in particular the kick when (the victim) was defenceless on the floor.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdParamedics arrived and initially thought the victim had suffered a fractured skull.
He was taken to hospital and treated for cuts and swelling to his face.
Saleh pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.
The court heard Saleh had lost is job and has had his licence taken away from him as a result of the attack
Anthony Sugare, mitigating, said Saleh was “low and depressed” at the time of the incident as his grandfather had died and he had just split up with his girlfriend.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdMr Sugare said Salah was a former engineering student and had no previous convictions.
The lawyer said Saleh carried out the attack after being provoked.
He said: “The victim was in drink and he must have said things that he would not say sober.”
Jailing Saleh, judge Penelope Belcher said: “You were outside the premises where you worked.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“You could have easily and simply left the scene and gone back into those premises.
“The way to deal with it is not what happened here.
“What happened here was a very nasty, sustained, attack
“I’m willing to accept that you were the subject of some derogatory remarks - that doesn’t justify what happened.
“What I see on the CCTV is not a man trying to extract himself from the situation, to leave it, to get away from it, but someone who is trying to square up to the victim.
“As a professional doorman you could simply have turned around and walked away or simply dealt with this situation by apologising.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHave you downloaded the free YEP app available on Android and iphone?