EIGHT police officers had to restrain a violent drunk outside a Halifax town centre nightclub after he spat in a doorman’s face and threw punches at friends and passers-by.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Shakil Roy was drunk and had taken cocaine before the fracas outside the Top Club in Northgate, Halifax, shortly before 1am on October 28 last year.

The incident was caught on CCTV and a body-worn camera.

Prosecutor Daisy Wrigley said Roy was part of a group allowed into the venue but who were denied re-entry after becoming rowdy.

At that point, Roy spat in the doorman’s eye, aggressively lashed out at other people, and threw a metal barrier.

Miss Wrigley said: “The defendant then moved into the middle of the road and was swinging his arms around trying to fight two members of the public who had got involved in the incident. At least eight police officers attended the scene.”

When arrested Roy threatened to kill himself and banged his head against the interior of a police van.

On being searched at Halifax Police Station he was found to have a bag of cocaine in his pocket.

Whilst in custody his behaviour fluctuated from being pleasant and calm to being verbally abusive and irate.

In an interview Roy, 23, of Calder Rise, Calder Close, Halifax, admitted drinking and taking cocaine and could not remember much about the incident. He denied his behaviour was disorderly.

He later pleaded guilty to affray and possession of cocaine.

Mitigating, Mollie Briggs said other people in the group on the night were responsible for more serious aggression but had not been charged. However, Roy had admitted his behaviour was “entirely unacceptable” and was both remorseful and ashamed.”

Her Honour Judge Sophie McKone said Roy’s behaviour amounted to “mindless violence” and said: “It was a disgrace the way you behaved.”

She added: “You had been drinking and taking drugs. People had to witness what was going on. People were hurt by your collective actions and people clearly were distressed.

“It was totally out of character, and you have a profound sense of shame over the way you acted that night, and so you should.”

In sentencing him she took into account his responsibilities as a father of three, his age, lack of previous convictions, guilty plea, remorse, and the pressures on prisons.

She sentenced Roy to a total of 14 months in prison suspended for 18 months and ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. He must also take part in a 90-day alcohol programme.