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Racist yobs' rampage through town centre: Pair punched and headbutted bystanders
TWO drunken yobs who rampaged through Halifax town centre attacking by-standers and shouting racist abuse have been jailed.
Ashley Fleming, 21, of Keighley Road, Halifax, and Kyle Mathieson, 19, of Huddersfield Road, Brighouse, butted, punched and throttled five random people during the spree.
Bradford Crown Court heard the pair began the unprovoked attacks at Halifax bus station at 5.30pm on Saturday, March 22.
Nikki Peers, prosecuting, said Fleming began by attacking Ashley Ward and Dion Ellis, grabbing one by the throat and punching him in the face before hitting the other.
Moments later the pair attacked Tariq Johnson and Louise Mortimer.
Miss Peers said: "The defendants blocked Mr Johnson's path before Fleming headbutted him and punched him in the face.
"He then shouted racist abuse before pulling his hood over his head, making him fall to the ground."
The pair then moved on to another man, Wahid Ramzan, hurling racial abuse and stealing his gym bag when he fought back.
Miss Peers told the court the attacks continued into Market Street where Ben-jamin Cyiza was set upon.
Fleming headbutted him with such force he knocked a tooth out and Mathieson barged into his shoulder.
They were arrested at 6.15pm after being chased by police and passers-by.
Charlotte Eastwood, for Mathieson, who has a string of violent convictions, said he had initially tried to break up the fight before becoming involved.
Richard Wright, for Fleming, said a head injury from a car crash in 2005 had changed his personality.
Fleming pleaded guilty to two counts of assault, two of racially aggravated assault and one of racially aggravated threatening behaviour. He was jailed for 24 months.
Mathieson pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and one of racially aggravated threatening behaviour. He was sentenced to 12 months in a young offender institution.
Judge Roger Scott told them: "You went from person to person for 40 minutes acting in a racist and disgusting way."
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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