THE leader of a gang who subjected a woman with learning difficulties to a terrifying hour-long ordeal in her own home has been locked up.

The gang of eight punched, slapped and dragged Emma Humphries, 23, around her Rawthorpe home in what a judge described as a “cowardly” attack.

Mark Paul Dingwall, 45, of Beacon Street, Ravensthorpe, was yesterday jailed for six months at Leeds Crown Court.

Dingwall punched the helpless victim in the face with two fists at least twice and then said: “We have seen blood. Now we can go”.

His Honour Judge Peter Hunt told five others they were lucky to escape a prison term.

He told them: “It’s been a very narrow call and I want you to learn what can happen if you get involved in mob violence. You all deserve to go into custody.”

Two more, a 22-year-old woman and a 15-year-old boy, will be sentenced later this month.

The court was told how Miss Humphries, who has the developmental disorder dyspraxia, had reported some of the gang for burglary and assault.

They turned up mob-handed at her home in Brownroyd Avenue at 11.30pm on June 26 last year and threatened to hurt her if she didn’t drop the cases.

During the hour-long attack, she was punched repeatedly in the face making her nose bleed; slapped around the face; and dragged by her hair.

She also had fingernails stuck into her neck and had water thrown over her. One of the men threatened to set his Rottweiler on her.

Dingwall, his partner Patricia Bellwood, 43, and her daughter Stacey Bellwood, 18, all of Beacon Street, appeared in the dock along with Daniel Kavanagh, 20, of Riddings Close, Sheepridge; Junior Khoza, 21, of Tenters Grove, Huddersfield, and his sister Khanya Khoza, 19, of Basildon, Essex.

All admitted assault.

All bar Dingwall were given community orders. Junior Khoza and Kavanagh were told to complete 160 hours of unpaid work, Patricia and Stacey Bellwood 140 hours each and Khanya Khoza 120 hours.

Nicola Butterworth, 22, of Brownroyd Avenue, Dalton, and the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have also admitted assault and will be sentenced on October 22.

Butterworth could not attend court because she has just given birth.

Miss Kama Melly, prosecuting, told the court how Miss Humphries reported a burglary and damage at her home on June 6 last year and Khanya Khoza, Stacey Bellwood and the 15-year-old boy were arrested as a result.

Kavanagh was said to have assaulted his partner Butterworth and Miss Humphries was a police witness.

Later Dingwall turned up at Miss Humphries’ door and threatened to kick it in if she didn’t open it. He told her he was alone but when she opened it, the others appeared and all burst inside.

Miss Melly said: “They threatened Miss Humphries and there was a prolonged, sustained incident that lasted an hour.

“Her hair was pulled, she was slapped around the face, she was kicked, pulled around the home, had nails in her neck and water thrown over her.

“She was punched in the face and her nose was bleeding. She was also threatened with a Rottweiler. They were all acting in concert. It was a joint enterprise.”

As a result of the attack, Miss Humphries had fled her home and gone to a refuge.

After their arrest the accused denied their part in the assault, only pleading guilty at the last minute.

Kavanagh only admitted the offence after his trial had started.

Miss Emma Bennett, for Dingwall, said her client was suffering with depression. She admitted he had “not impressed” the probation officer who compiled a pre-sentence report.

Miss Bennett, who also represented Patricia Bellwood, said she also had depression and had tried to take her own life after her children were taken into care.

Mr Michael Greenhalgh, for Kavanagh, said his client’s report was a “thoroughly depressing document” and added: “He is a very immature man and some of the attitudes he has suggests he is on the way to starting a criminal career.”

Mr Steve Grattage, for Stacey Bellwood, said she had acted completely out of character and had shown remorse.

Miss Eleanor Fry, for Khanya Khoza, said she had expressed genuine remorse and said “something just snapped.”

Mr Khaleeq Zaman, for Junior Khoza, said his client’s only part was to go to the scene because he was told his sister had been in a fight.

Judge Hunt said the motive for the “mob-handed” attack was clear and told the defendants: “You were all acting in concert taking a greater or lesser role.

“Miss Humphries suffered the physical consequences but I have no doubt that emotional damage in terms of fear and intimidation have been obvious and extensive”.

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