MIDDLESBROUGH, England — A man has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison after a violent assault on a door supervisor at a local social club and another incident that disrupted rail services. Stephen Leadbeater, 39, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent and causing a public nuisance.
The attack occurred in the early hours of August 1, 2021, as Leadbeater was leaving the Longlands Social Club. Prosecutor Cainan Lonsdale detailed how Leadbeater became aggressive after the door supervisor attempted to usher out patrons, picking up glasses and clearing the area for closing time. What started as a scuffle quickly escalated into a brutal confrontation.
Lonsdale described the scene where Leadbeater punched and pushed the door supervisor. As the altercation intensified, Leadbeater picked up a bottle and struck the victim. The violent encounter led to them wrestling on the ground where Leadbeater bit the supervisor through his work shirt and stamped on his head multiple times before hitting him with a pint glass, resulting in serious injuries.
In a separate incident on September 19, 2023, Leadbeater climbed onto a signal box between Middlesbrough and Thornaby, causing significant delays to the rail network. When authorities attempted to get him to come down, he refused, further complicating the situation.
During the court proceedings, defense attorney John Nixon highlighted Leadbeater’s mental health struggles at the time of both offenses. Despite this, the presiding judge, Jonathan Carroll, criticized Leadbeater’s attempt to avoid responsibility by claiming confusion with his deceased brother, asserting that no evidence supported his claim that they were twins.
Judge Carroll noted the severity of Leadbeater’s actions and emphasized that he had tried to deflect blame onto his deceased sibling, showing no regard for the harm caused. Leadbeater’s sentencing reflects the court’s stance on violence and public safety, particularly in venues meant for social gathering and enjoyment.