By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 11:37, Tuesday, 10 July 2012

A drug-fuelled thug who brought terror to families enjoying a quiet meal at a Workington pub has been jailed for two years.

A judge told 23-year-old David Gilpin his 11-minute rampage of violence in the Apple Tree pub in Workington had been “ferocious, sustained and unremitting” – and totally without provocation.

Gilpin, of Hillcrest, Northside, Workington, attacked three people in the pub after getting high on drugs and alcohol.

A CCTV recording of the incident on March 21 was shown to the judge, Recorder John Jones QC, at Carlisle Crown Court, where Gilpin pleaded guilty to a string of offences involving violence and drugs.

After watching it, Mr Jones told him: “It was a terrifying incident for everyone who had the misfortune to be involved in it.”

And he said it was “a mercy” that Gilpin’s first victim – his then girlfriend Hayley Bower – had not been seriously injured.

“The terror that was shown on her face was obvious to all who watched the CCTV video,” he said.

Prosecutor Alan Lovett told the court that people were enjoying “an entirely happy family atmosphere” in the pub’s lounge when Gilpin suddenly launched into Ms Bower, apparently because of “a long-running issue between them”.

Gilpin – staggering around as a result of the drink and drugs he had taken – punched her to the floor, then punched her again as she cowered there.

He then pinned her on the floor by lying on top of her and bit her.

Another woman was so shocked by what was happening that she grabbed Ms Bower’s child out of its pushchair and took it away for safety.

The attack on Ms Bower was only the start of the incident, Mr Lovett said.

Two minutes later he attacked Neil Thompson, an innocent bystander.

He rained several punched down on him before Mr Thompson – “showing an enormous degree of restraint” - managed to overpower him and drag him to the floor.

After getting to his feet he started throwing bar stools around the lounge and into the bar area.

Danielle Stephenson – who was in the bar area and had “absolutely nothing to do with the earlier incident” – was slightly hurt when one of the stools hit her. Gilpin pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm to Ms Bower and to assaulting Mr Thompson and Ms Stephenson by beating them.

He also admitted charges of affray and possessing two illegal drugs – cannabis and valium – which were found on him after his arrest.

In mitigation defence barrister Marion Weir said Gilpin had expressed “immediate remorse” when he was shown the CCTV footage of the incident.

First published at 11:31, Tuesday, 10 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk