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Teen David Leen spoils chances of new life in Oz

Canterbury Crown Court
Canterbury Crown Court

A Ramsgate plumber’s dream of a new life in Australia has been shattered...because drink turns him violent.

Teenager David Leen had planned to join family members in Perth after completing his college course.

But in April and July last year the 19-year-old launched attacks on three people – leaving two victims unconscious.

His barrister pleaded with a judge to allow him to keep his freedom – as a jail sentence would wreck his hopes of getting a work visa.

But a judge told Leen, of South Eastern Road, that drink made him violent and he had to go to prison.

Canterbury Crown Court had heard how Leen, who had admitted three assault charges, had been drinking in a pub in Broadstairs where one of his victims had been at a Hen party.

One of the partygoers, Lorraine Chitty was approached by the drunken Leen who was spoiling for a fight and she told him to “go home and grow up”.

Judge Michael O’Sullivan told him: “You were drunk and became offensive.

You then told her that if she was a man you would have knocked her out. That shows your aggressive intent that evening.”

Mrs Chitty’s husband, Trevor intervened but was headbutted and punched to the face and fell between two cars in the road.

He was later taken to hospital and treated for cuts to his face, the court heard.

Leen was arrested by given bail but in July he was back in another pub in Margate and became involved in a fracas with Matthew Saffrey.

The teenager was thrown out of the pub but then headbutted his victim knocking him unconscious, the court heard.

A friend of Mr Saffrey, Abigail Jordan later exchanged texts with Leen’s girlfriend, Gemma.

Leen then turned up at her house screaming: “You p*ssed Gemma off. So I am here to p*ss you off” before threatening to smash a window.

Prosecutor Donna East said Leen was then told that a three year old child was in the house and a smashed window could kill the youngster.

Leen, who had armed himself with a statue, replied that he would take “great pleasure” in killing the child.

The Judge told him: “I accept that you didn’t mean that and it was said because you were drunk.”

The row led to a bust up with Abigail’s father who had armed himself with a golf club to scare off the aggressive Leen “and to protect his home of family”.

But the teenage thug grabbed the club and used it to beat Mr Jordan over the head – knocking him unconscious before running off.

The judge – in jailing him for 22 months – told him: “This was appalling behaviour. You violated their home where they should have felt safe.

“I would be failing in my duty if I didn’t send you immediately to prison.”

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