A CONVICTED violent drugs “baron” who bit three police workers and left one officer in excruciating pain from a dislocated shoulder has been jailed for three years.

Anthony Murgatroyd attacked the officer who was arresting him, after he had been called to a domestic argument, and injured three officers and staff in his police cell.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that Murgatroyd had been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in 2002 for a series of offences, including serious violence.

On that occasion, Murgatroyd had repeatedly stabbed a small time drug dealer, in front of Christmas shoppers outside the Hilton Hotel in Bradford city centre, puncturing his victim's lung, lacerating his kidney and almost severing his tongue.

He was joined in the attack by Naveed Butt, who kicked the victim in the head. He was then thrown into Butt's car, driven to a house and dragged into the cellar, where Butt shoved a cocked gun into the victim's mouth and threatened to kill him if he spoke to police.

Murgatroyd, then 27, was convicted of wounding with intent, kidnap, false imprisonment, threats to kill, conspiracy to supply class A drugs, and possessing heroin with intent to supply.

Jailing both men at the time for 15 years, Judge Alastair McCallum described Murgatroyd and Butt as at the top of the drugs chain and prepared to use extreme violence.

The court yesterday heard Murgatroyd had been released from that sentence in July 2012 and was under the supervision of the probation service and things had gone well. He had not offended again, had settled down, formed relationships and found work.

But in the last year, things had started to go wrong. Murgatroyd had become depressed and anxious and began taking medication. He was unable to work, and on November 15 last year police were called to his home address in Moorlands Gardens, Drighlington, because of an argument with his partner.

The court heard he struggled with the officers and bit the arm of PC David Simpson. The bite marked the officer’s arm but did not break the skin.

Murgatroyd was taken to a police station, booked in and placed in a cell. He was co-operative but after a couple of hours his attitude changed substantially.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, told the defendant: “It is said this was the first time you had been back under lock and key since your release from sentence.”

The judge said a civilian worker who ran the Trafalgar House cells, Luke Reed, brought food to the cell for the defendant.

Judge Thomas said: “He entered the cell. Your reaction was to show gross and real violence to him.”

Murgatroyd punched Mr Reed and kneed him to the head. Other civilians and police officers in the cells heard the alarm and went to help.

One officer, PC Sean Leeson, tried to get Murgatroyd in a head lock but was bitten and kicked by the prisoner. PC Leeson suffered a dislocated shoulder and described being in excruciating pain and agony. He was off work and could not drive for six weeks.

A civilian officer, John Stead, was also bitten.

Judge Thomas said: “You really did sink your teeth into him. On this occasion it was a substantial bite on his right bicep.”

Mr Stead went to hospital and had treatment from a plastic surgeon, but is scarred as a result of the bite.

The court heard that Murgatroyd was himself injured in the incident.

He pleaded guilty to one charge of wounding with intent and three charges of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Murgatroyd’s barrister, Andrew Dallas, said his client’s new relationship had survived the argument that led to the police being called, and there were no proceedings in relation to that. She, and his family, were in court to support him.

Mr Dallas said Murgatroyd had to give up working because he was struggling with depression and anxiety, due to the long prison sentence he had served. He was on medication at the time of the offences.

While at the police station he had repeatedly requested his medication, but nothing had happened and he had become increasingly desperate.

During the struggle, his client had suffered a serious injury to his hand when it was trodden on. He was in a state of panic and considerable pain.