Altaf Hussain was picking his children up when he turned violent
Altaf Hussain turned violent on the school run(Image: Getty)
A Leeds dad who got into a punch-up in a row over parking on the school run has narrowly avoided prison.
Altaf Hussain, 41, was picking his children up from the school in north Leeds on March 4 last year when he got into an argument with another dad. Prosecutor Zanisha Herbert told Leeds Crown Court on Friday, April 17: “Shortly after 3.10pm, this defendant and a man were both attending a school in Leeds to get their children. A person saw the beginning of the driving matter that led to the affray and describes the defendant as driving at a junction and coming to a stop and beginning to reverse.
“Behind his vehicle was the other man, who sounded his horn, one would assume to avoid collision. He [Hussain] continued to reverse and park the vehicle.”
The court heard that Hussain, of Shepherds Place, Chapeltown, then parked his vehicle and got out and started to shout at the man, “asking what his problem was.” Ms Herbert said: “He was pushing and shoving him before someone intervened and separated them. This did work for some time, and the defendant moved his vehicle a short distance away and returned. He started (to) punch the man again. A number of members of the public intervened and separated the two men.
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“Another witness said the victim’s children became tearful at seeing their father assaulted. Another woman described being fearful for herself, and another said she was shocked and disgusted at the assault.”
Car valeter Hussain was arrested and interviewed and said it was the other man who was the aggressor. He went on to admit affray when he appeared at Leeds Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard a stand-down report had been prepared for the sentencing hearing, and a probation officer gave evidence. She said: “He does feel embarrassed and ashamed of his behaviour. Having exchanged words, he hadn’t expected it to escalate to the level that it did.
“He is able to acknowledge the impact on those who saw it. He does have previous convictions for violence, but it is of some age. He has tried to avoid getting into trouble. He said his marriage of 11 years had broken down two years ago and it has been on and off the last couple of months. He has three children.”
Mitigating, Becky Jane told the court Hussain now parks around the corner when doing the school run. She said: “He tells me it was a heat-of-the-moment thing and shouldn’t have happened. He had a broken back at the time.”
Recorder Silverton handed Hussain a sentence of six months suspended for a year and told him during that time he must complete 100 hours of unpaid work and up to 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days. She told him: “I’m told today that you acted in the heat of the moment and you have to learn to control yourself in the heat of the moment.”
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