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Thug was snared by CCTV footage
A THUG who "rained 12 blows" on his victim was snared by CCTV footage.
Father-of-two Michael Hickingbotham, 24, was arrested after police viewed the damning camera footage of a fight in Southgate, Elland, on August 22 last year.
Calderdale magistrates heard that officers, who came across the fight while on patrol at about 10.30pm, initally arrested the victim, Russell Bland, after catching him throw a punch which knocked Hickingbotham unconscious.
But footage later showed the punch was thrown in self-defence.
Clare Benson, prosecuting, played the CCTV footage in court, which she said showed Mr Hickingbotham "rain about 12 blows to the head and body of Mr Bland. The one punch that Mr Bland is seen to throw unfortunately comes at the point the police arrived."
The court heard Hickingbotham had 15 previous convictions and was on bail for an assault in January 2009 at the time of the attack.
He initially pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour towards Mr Bland.
The prosecution accepted the lesser charge and magistrates dismissed the common assault charge.
Emily Price, for Hickingbotham, of Elland House, Elland, said he had been drinking that evening and had earlier argued with Mr Bland inside a pub.
She said he realised his behaviour was unacceptable and had since settled down to family life.
The court heard he looked after his two children from a previous relationship every weekend and his girlfriend was due to give birth to his third child next month.
Magistrates adjourned the case until March 29 for a pre-sentence report.
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