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Latest news in Yorkshire: October 19, 2018 12:52:39 PM
EX-TITANS star Simon Bunting avoided a jail sentence despite sparking a
seaside bar brawl and needing taser-wielding police to subdue him.
The strapping builder (47, pictured), threw punches “indiscriminately”
inside the packed Abbey Wharf bar in Whitby, Scarborough Magistrates’
Court heard.
Bunting, of Clarence Place, Maltby, lashed out after receiving a call
from home telling him his father Colin had died of a heart attack – and
being taunted by a group of men when he burst into tears.
The rugby player — currently at Dinnington — was on a seaside trip
with about 50 other men to celebrate a 50th birthday but lost his cool
when the group, thought to be fellow builders from Rotherham, started
“goading and taunting” him, the court was told.
Despite leaving a doorman injured as he tried to break up the scrap,
Bunting — Rotherham Rugby Club’s record appearance holder — was spared
a prison term, with magistrates instead opting to fine the front row
forward £400 and order him to carry out 80 hours’ unpaid work.
Prosecutor Mr Philip Morris said Bunting was seen attacking members of
the public “indiscriminately”.
Door supervisor David Garner saw him “randomly punching” people in the
bar and other men throwing punches back.
Mr Garner tried to push Bunting away and jumped on his back, but Bunting
hit him at least twice.
Bunting’s 18-year-old son Morgan, believing his father was under attack,
assaulted another doorman during the melee on June 9.
Bunting senior’s friends ushered him out of the pub, but the violence
continued in the street.
Police arrived and a sergeant told the men to stop, but the raging prop
forward called him a “f****** little b*****”.
“He was threatening to assault the officer,” added prosecutor Mr Martin
Butterworth at Tuesday’s sentencing.
The police sergeant took out his stun gun and tasered Bunting twice,
once when he was on the ground, before he was finally cuffed.
Bunting senior was charged with common assault, resisting a police
officer and a public order offence.
He denied the charges and appeared for what was due to be a trial at
Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on Friday, but admitted assault and
resisting an officer on the day of trial. The other charge was dropped.
Bunting’s lawyer Mr Peter Large said his client was ordinarily a
hard-working, “decent, solid man of the community” who had been provoked
by the group of about six men who also worked in construction and
disliked Bunting.
“My client’s had difficulties over a number of years in the little
villages outside Rotherham with people who simply don’t like him,” added
Mr Large.
“Some of them are in a rival builder’s firm and have taken against him.”
However, Mr Large said his client’s behaviour in Whitby was
“disgraceful” and added: “He’s entirely ashamed of himself.”
The court heard that Bunting had previous convictions for criminal
damage and public disorder, which led to a suspended prison sentence in
2015.
David Auton, chair of magistrates, told him that his behaviour was “not
the most shining example of fatherhood” but decided not to jail him.
Morgan Bunting, of the same address, admitted common assault and was
given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100
compensation to the doorman.
Bunting played rugby 234 times for Rotherham in an 18-year career at the
club, before moving to neighbours Doncaster.
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News source: rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk