A MAN who confronted and spat at the manager of a Bradford bingo hall has avoided jail.

Stephen Monaghan, 52, of Thornaby Drive, Clayton, had pleaded guilty to assaulting Andrew Whitworth, general manager of Gala Bingo on Bridge Street, on March 17 prior to yesterday’s sentencing at Bradford Crown Court. He admitted spitting towards Mr Whitworth’s mouth after he stepped in when Monaghan was swearing at a female customer.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Whitworth said he was “disgusted” at Monaghan’s actions, stating: “I would rather have been punched in the face than spat at.”

Monaghan was serving a 16-month suspended sentence for burglary at the time of the offence, but Judge Neil Davey QC said it would have been “unjust” to activate it as the assault would have demanded a non-custodial penalty, instead imposing a three-month electronic curfew.