Man took off belt to use as weapon in battle outside lap dancing bar

A MAN who took part in drunken violence in the town centre has been given a chance after he told a judge he had given up alcohol.

Aaron Gleed had taken off his belt to use it as a weapon when he was involved in a running battle which started outside a lap dancing bar in the town centre.

But after hearing the burly 25-year-old, who has a history of violence, was now on the wagon he was spared jail and put on a suspended sentence.

Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how the incident started in Fleet Street on Friday June 6 last year.

"A member of door staff at Fantasy nightclub made a telephone call to police about a disorder which was taking place outside," she said.

"By the time the police arrived it was all over but when CCTV was viewed it was apparent what was going on."

She said there were two groups of people in the street with Gleed in one and Mark Dennis in the other.

After a lot of posturing, and being egged on by their friends, both men are seen to take off their belts as they move along the road.

Miss Hingston said: "The doorman said the behaviour was shocking. Having seen the CCTV, I concur. Both are using belts, flailing the buckle end."

She said the violence went on for about 20 minutes with the men also grappling and trying to punch each other.

Gleed, of Frobisher Drive, Walcot, pleaded guilty to affray. Dennis was not prosecuted as he received a lengthy jail term for other matters soon after.

The court was told Gleed has received jail terms in the past for violence and served a short period inside in June for breaching a community order.

Rob Ross, defending, said: "He can't remember  anything, he had been drinking all day and in his own words he was absolutely hammered.

"He took his belt off as Dennis took his off and was clearly going to hit him. He then got involved in a fist fight with Mr Dennis.

"At first blush one would look at this young man's record and would say that he has a record involving a fair amount of violence.

"All the offending can be put down to over indulgence in alcohol. He was drunk. He then gets a custodial sentence for breaching a community order given in late June. He served a number of weeks in custody.

"I have to say over all the years I have dealt with Aaron Gleed, after he had come out of prison was the first time I had had a conversation with him in years when he wasn't smelling of alcohol.

"He was also able to say he was working. He is a father. He had just indicated that he had decided to stop drinking. I have to say he is quite robust in that view.

"He knows that if he gets out of it, the chances are if someone says the wrong word to him he retaliates.

"As you can see, he is quite a big lad and it is usually the other bloke that comes off worse."

Passing sentence Judge Peter Blair QC said: "Not only are you a nuisance when drunk, and quite frightening I imagine to people having fun on a night out.

"But you are doing yourself a disservice. You've ended up coming back before the court. I get the impression now the shock of the prison sentence you got at the end of last year had led to a bit of a change about things.

"You need to provide a bit of give so far as addressing your rather quick temper and therefore I am going to give you a chance of not going to prison today by giving you a suspended sentence."

He imposed a four month jail term suspended for 18 months, put him under supervision for a year and on a night time curfew for three months.