(Image: West Yorkshire Police)
A drunk who stabbed two security guards in a “violent and racist rampage” outside Bradford College, yelled racial abuse, and threatened that he would “kill them all” has been jailed for more than three years.
Sentencing David Noutch at Bradford Crown Court, a judge told him: “You were trying to start a major incident.”
The court heard how 32-year-old Noutch had been drinking all night, missed his train home, and then continued drinking before sleeping rough.
He was intoxicated when he walked towards the college where, said prosecuting barrister Lydia Pearce, he “essentially went on a violent and racist rampage”.
Noutch being detained near the college (Image: UGC)
After first picking a fight with a group of Asian males, he was seen on CCTV jumping back and forth with his fists in front of him, which Miss Pearce described as “shadow boxing”, before striking one of the men to the face.
Miss Pearce said that was “a catalyst” for what happened next as Noutch, having started the fight, was hit in return.
He was surrounded by students who also told security guards what had happened.
Noutch began aggressively hurling racist abuse at the guards including “You P*** s are gonna die” and shouting that he would “kill them all”.
As the guards attempted to de-escalate the situation, Noutch took off his top, directed more racist abuse towards students and staff whilst, said Miss Pearce, “attempting to get some of the white members of staff onside.”
The police cordon in place (Image: Newsquest)
She added: “He said words to the effect of ‘I’m going to stab them all’ and retrieved a pair of garden secateurs from his duffle-bag and ran towards the Asian members of staff as if to attack them.
“There then ensued a struggle where members of staff attempted to subdue the defendant and wrestle the secateurs from his hands. In the struggle the defendant repeatedly struck out at people, causing them injuries.”
One man was stabbed in the knee, and another in the arm.
Noutch was detained at the scene and the police were called.
In a police van he spat blood all over the interior of the vehicle.
In a police station he spat in the face of a police officer.
In an interview Noutch claimed he had been approached and abused by Asian men and then subsequently attacked.
He stated that he felt he had been the victim of an attack and had only acted in self-defence.
The court heard that Noutch had 37 previous convictions for 64 offences including multiple offences of possession of a knife or bladed article.
In 2022 he was jailed for 44 months for assaulting an emergency worker and using a firearm to resist arrest.
He was still on licence when he launched his attack outside Bradford College.
In victim statements read to the court, two men who were confronted by Noutch that day described their reactions to what had happened.
One said he had suffered sleepless nights, anxiety, and flashbacks and he now looks over his shoulder “paranoid and stressed” thinking he might be attacked again.
Another described how Noutch’s “hateful” comments were not simple insults but had been directed at him even as he tried to help Noutch and de-escalate the situation.
He said the experience had been “degrading and upsetting” and that racism and religious hate had “no place” in society.
Mitigating for Noutch, of no fixed abode, Bradford, and who appeared in court via video link from HMP Leeds, Jeremy Barton said his behaviour had been “abhorrent” and that Noutch himself wished to apologise for what he had done.
He said Noutch was remorseful and disgusted when he heard and saw how he had behaved.
He said Noutch had been sleeping rough that day, had not taken his medication, and was “in a bad frame of mind”.
He described Noutch’s behaviour as him “lashing out” and said his comments did not represent entrenched views.
He said: “This defendant did not set out that day to behave that way. This is not something that he wanted to do when he got up that morning, but he concedes that is what happened.”
He said Noutch had been in custody for a year and three days and had been an “exemplary” prisoner.
Sentencing Noutch to a total of 37 months’ imprisonment, Mr Recorder Patrick Palmer said his racist abuse and violent behaviour was “deeply troubling”.
He said: “You were shouting that you would kill them all.
“That shows the state that you were in, and your attitude towards them.
“To their credit as public servants they did what they could to restrain you and to control the situation down, but you became more and more agitated.
“Despite attempts to de-escalate the situation, you acted aggressively.
“You went on to take your top off. You were directing racial abuse at them and the students, and you were trying to get white members of the public there on your side.
“You were trying to start a major incident.”
After he was sentenced Noutch put his hand up and asked the judge: “With the new laws that have come in … am I to serve half or 33%? I’m a bit unsure.”
Recorder Palmer told Noutch he would serve half of his sentence in custody and that time served would count towards it.
Recorder Palmer ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the secateurs.