One incident was an ‘unprovoked attack’ on a cyclist in Hull city centre and, during another, he hit a man at a flat
John Puckering has been jailed(Image: Humberside Police)
A drug-addicted troublemaker viciously attacked two men in separate nasty confrontations that were sparked by him being completely unable to control his temper and his “outbursts of violence”. Heavy drinker and crack cocaine user John Puckering had a shocking list of 106 previous offences and he was in danger of serving “a life sentence in instalments” if he did not change his ways, Hull Crown Court heard.
Puckering, 41, of Spring Bank, Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted affray on October 10 and inflicting grievous bodily harm on October 15. He pleaded guilty on the day of a scheduled trial.
Amber Hobson, prosecuting, said that a man was in Hull city centre with friends on October 10. He was riding his bicycle through Queen Victoria Square when Puckering approached him from behind. Without warning, Puckering grabbed the man and pulled him from his bicycle, causing him to fall onto the ground.
While he was on the ground, Puckering got on top of him and put his knee on the man’s upper body and neck area, restricting his breathing. During the incident, Puckering demanded £20 cash, claiming that the man owed it to him.
While he was on the ground, the victim’s glasses were removed from his face and taken. The man eventually managed to get away from Puckering and he got on his bicycle and left the area.
“He called 999 and reported the incident,” said Miss Hobson. When the police arrived, Puckering flagged them down and claimed that he had been robbed by a man who left on a bicycle.
“Police realised shortly afterwards that the man they were talking to was the defendant and he was arrested,” said Miss Hobson. The grievous bodily harm incident happened after a man went to the “drugs den” flat of a friend on October 14.
“There were several other people there when he got there,” said Miss Hobson. “He sat in the living room and started smoking cannabis. Some of the other people there were taking crack cocaine and other drugs.”
He had been there for about an hour when the defendant came in.
“He only knew the defendant by his nickname of Boggle but they had known each other for a number of years and were good friends.” They chatted and the man asked Puckering for some money to buy cigarettes and Puckering happily gave him £4.
The man went and bought some cigarettes before returning to the flat. Puckering was smoking crack cocaine and was “high”.
The man went into a bedroom with a woman and they had been there for about an hour when Puckering suddenly walked in. Puckering was angry and he was going on about the cigarettes that the man bought with Puckering’s money.
The man handed over the cigarettes but Puckering “changed quite dramatically” and he pulled a shifting spanner tool from his pocket and twice swung his hand towards the man’s face, knocking him to the floor.
The man got up and tried to defend himself to keep Puckering at bay. He dragged Puckering out of the flat.
“He asked him why he had attacked him but the defendant made no reply,” said Miss Hobson. An ambulance was called and the man was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary.
He was found to have suffered a 5cm-long wound to his upper neck and a 1cm-long wound to his face or neck area. Police went to the hospital and Puckering was arrested a short time later. He had convictions for 106 previous offences, including five involving assaults and 58 theft-related.
Cathy Kioko-Gilligan, mitigating, said that Puckering pleaded guilty at a late stage to both offences. This saved both victims from the ordeal of having to give evidence at a trial.
Puckering had an unenviable criminal record. “That can’t be ignored,” said Miss Kioko-Gilligan. He had a background of drug misuse and he had substituted that for an alcohol addiction.
“He was in drink when he committed the second offence,” said Miss Kioko-Gilligan. “He has spent time in custody from a very young age and he knows himself that if he doesn’t turn away from illicit drugs and alcohol, he will simply serve a life sentence in instalments.”
Recorder Tony Watkin said that Puckering had a troubling difficulty with controlling his temper and “outbursts of violence”. The violent incident in the city centre was an “unprovoked attack” on a member of the public who was just riding his bicycle along the street.
“The victim was very traumatised by what happened,” said Recorder Watkin. “The next thing he knew was that he was on the floor being attacked when he was riding his bike.
“He was struggling to breathe because you had your knee on his neck. He is fearful now of going into the city centre because he is scared of it happening again.”
Puckering was jailed for 18 months. He appeared in court via a video link from custody.
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