Back to jail for frenzy of violence at city pub

Thug tore off door, hurled bin bags and spat at officer

Darren Bailey fixes the lens of the camera with an empty stare just three hours before he was jailed for an extraordinary outburst of violence in a Canterbury pub.

In the space of just five minutes, the 29-year-old ripped the front door of the Old City Bar off its hinges, hurled bin bags at its windows, bit a member of the public and spat at a police officer.

Wearing a blue tracksuit top, Bailey turned up at Canterbury Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning knowing he was returning to the prison he had been released from earlier in the year.

He even posed for a picture with his bag outside the Broad Street building as he awaited his fate.

The court was told that jobless Bailey, of Winston Close on the Spring Lane Estate, had gone into the Old City in Oaten Hill early on the evening of July 1.

Having been refused service because he was drunk, Bailey went berserk.

Prosecutor Julie Farbrace said: “Police received a report of a disturbance at the Old City.

“They were told a male was kicking off. It was aggressive behaviour by a male later identified as Darren Bailey.”

The pub was busy with people enjoying a Friday night drink after a working week.

They looked on as Bailey repeatedly kicked the bar, turned on beer taps and then smashed the front door into a jukebox.

He then went outside and hurled bin bags at the windows.

Drinker Simon Crossley, who plays for the Canterbury Rugby Club fourth team, tackled Bailey to the floor and with the help of others pinned him to the ground.

Bailey then bit the arm of one man restraining him, piercing his skin and drawing blood.

Ms Farbrace said police arrived moments later.

“Bailey was placed in handcuffs, but he spat in the face of one officer trying to control him,” Ms Farbrace said.

Bailey admitted causing criminal damage worth £920 and assaulting a member of the public and a police officer.

The court heard he has previous convictions for battery, assaulting police and criminal damage.

In November 2015, he was jailed for possessing a bladed article and released shortly before the incident at the Old City.

Magistrates jailed Bailey for 126 days. He was not ordered to pay any compensation.