Two brave Carlisle betting shop bosses stepped in as daytime violence flared at their premises.

Manager David Orr and his deputy Andrew Murray were commended by a judge for helping to prevent more serious trouble at Coral bookmakers in Blackwell Road on July 28.

At the city’s crown court, 24-year-old Kane Hull was jailed for his role in the disorder which involved a metal winch and hook.

Gerard Rogerson, said it was 3pm when staff attention was drawn to Ryan Kirkpatrick after he entered the premises.

“He appeared to be fidgety, looking around the shop and out of the windows, and walking back and forth,” said Mr Rogerson.

He left the store briefly and returned within minutes. CCTV footage played to the court captured three men then entering, two looking down “as if to avoid cameras”.

As they walked quickly towards Mr Kirkpatrick, Mr Orr intervened.

“He describes how he held back Mr Hull,” said Mr Rogerson. “Mr Orr said he thought the young man was going to get ‘smashed in’, as he put it.”

A weapon – described as an industrial aluminium winch and hook – was produced and appeared to change hands. This was seen in Hull’s possession as the trio fled.

Mr Murray also sought to prevent trouble, and Mr Rogerson stated: “It is fair to say if it hadn’t been for the intervention of these two staff members, we might have been looking at a more serious assault.”

Hull was identified from the CCTV.

It emerged he was released on licence from a 30-month sentence – for violence and possession of a bottle outside Carlisle’s Rouge nightspot – only a fortnight earlier.

Hull admitted affray, offensive weapon possession and damaging a shop television.

Daniel Prowse, defending Hull, previously of Springkell, Aspatria, said: “He didn’t actually inflict any harm on anybody because he was prevented from doing so.”

However, Mr Prowse conceded: “This can only be a custodial sentence.”

Judge Peter Hughes QC jailed him for 21 months, and praised Mr Orr and Mr Murray for their intervention.

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