A violent thug who continued a fight outside a Middlesbrough pub has walked out of court.
Kai Gatley got into a fight in the toilets of The Green Tree Pub, on Gilkes Street in central Middlesbrough, late at night on November 4, 2022. Teesside Crown Court has heard that there was a conflict with another man, who “called Gatley into the toilets and instigated the fight.”
Pub landlord Tom Best became concerned when he saw the victim walk out of the loos with blood on his face. The court heard that Mr Best followed the man outside out of concern.
Gatley, 37, was seen to punch the man repeatedly in the face. The victim was left lying on the ground, as three men walked away.
He suffered a minor head injury and lacerations to his face. The court heard that Gatley was heard warning him to “keep away” from a woman.
Gatley, of Queen’s Terrace in Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, at an earlier hearing. Judge Jonathan Carroll told Gatley, who works as a carer for his mum: “You both voluntarily entered into a fight in the toilets but unlawfully you continued the assault outside.
“Whatever the issue between you and the victim, if you end up in a fight in a pub people can end up seriously injured. Members of the public are entitled to be there and relax.
“Because it is a pub, weapons are there in the form of glasses and bottles. Very serious civil unrest can occur.
“It happened in 2022 and here we are in January 2025. There have been no further incidents. I can accept that this issue is now in the past.”
Gatley was handed a seven-month and two-week prison term, suspended for two-years. He must carry out 240 hours of unpaid work and attend 30 rehabilitation days. Gatley was ordered to undergo an electronically-monitored alcohol abstinence programme for 120 days.
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