High-spirited late-night antics suddenly turned “nasty” when two men decided to try their luck and start flirting with a young woman who was out celebrating her boyfriend’s birthday.
The pair’s drink-fuelled bravado in Hull city centre badly backfired when they were quickly told that she already had a boyfriend. A bad-tempered confrontation soon escalated and a woman and her husband were assaulted during scuffling. One of the victims later said that she feared for her life during the violence, Hull Crown Court heard.
Aaron Buckingham, 28, of New Bridge Road, east Hull, admitted assaulting the young woman’s boyfriend and Charlie Leck, 26, of Severn Street, off holderness -road>Holderness Road, east Hull, admitted assaulting the boyfriend’s mother on May 8, 2022. They both denied more serious offences of assault causing actual bodily harm and those charges were dropped on the day of a scheduled trial.
Connor Stuart, prosecuting, said that a woman was out in Hull with her husband, her son and his then girlfriend. They were celebrating the son’s birthday. At about midnight, the woman was walking near the Maritime Museum when she saw two men – later identified as Buckingham and Leck – approach her son’s girlfriend and try to flirt with her.
The woman intervened and told them that the target of their unwanted attentions had a boyfriend. “There was a confrontation between the parties and the situation rapidly escalated,” said Mr Stuart.
Leck threw a single punch at the woman’s husband and Buckingham became involved in a struggle with the woman and her husband. The woman was pushed into a wall and she suffered a head injury. During the struggle, Buckingham took the son off his feet and kicked him.
(Image: Hull Live)
Buckingham and Leck fled the scene but they were later detained nearby after being pointed out by the victims. “They were arrested and taken to Clough Road police station,” said Mr Stuart.
The woman later said: “I feel traumatised. I feared for my life. I struggle with my mental health as it is and now this has made it harder for me to want to leave the house.”
Her son said: “Since this incident, I have been scared to even go out of the house because I am afraid something might happen again. I had to miss several weeks of work, which had an impact on me financially.”
During police interview, Buckingham claimed that he intervened only to pull people off a friend during a scuffle. “He did not accept responsibility for any violence,” said Mr Stuart.
Leck admitted punching the woman’s husband but he claimed it was in self-defence. He claimed that someone from the victims’ group came at him “quite aggressively” – prompting him to strike. He denied any involvement in any further violence, including pushing anyone into a wall or assaulting the woman. He insisted that he threw only one punch.
(Image: Hull Live)
Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said that Buckingham did not know those involved and there had been no earlier trouble that “unfortunate night”. There had been no repetition of the behaviour. “This was a one-off,” said Mr Shipley. “Nobody excuses his behaviour.”
Buckingham worked as a joiner, specialising in staircases. “He has a long-term plan to move to Australia with his girlfriend of two years,” said Mr Shipley.
Hannah Turner, representing Leck, said that there had been no further problems. “He wants to draw a line under these proceedings and move on with his life without it hanging over his head,” said Miss Turner.
“This was quite clearly behaviour that was entirely out of character for both these defendants. They were young, out in town and perhaps alcohol got the better of them but it is not something which he will repeat.”
Leck accepted that he threw the first punch at the woman’s husband but no charge had been brought over that. He accepted that he must have caused some issues with the woman who became involved. It was a “reckless” assault.
He was off sick from working for the council, fitting double glazed windows and doors. Both men had no previous convictions.
Recorder Ayesha Smart said: “This was a nasty incident. Thankfully, it was short-lived. Whether it was reckless or not, the two of you caused those injuries. Both of you were under the influence of alcohol at the time.”
Buckingham was fined £750 and Leck was fined £650. They were each ordered to pay £250 compensation. “I sincerely hope that this is the last time that you brush with the criminal justice system,” said Recorder Smart.