A former soldier who assaulted two people in a pub after closing time has been order to complete unpaid work.
The attacks took place at the Scape House Inn in Scapegoat Hill in the early hours of May 21, Kirklees Magistrates’ Court heard.
James Luck, who completed tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, admitted assaulting the landlord and woman while heavily in drink.
District Judge Michael Fanning described the fight as “ugly”.
He told Luck: “You’ve served your country, protecting me and everybody else doing a job that I certainly would never be able to do fighting in the worst conflict zones in the world.
“(However) this was an ugly incident when you were very drunk.”
The Huddersfield court heard that at one point during the attack Luck seized a bottle, although he did not use this.
It happened at 1.30am when Luck was drinking in the High Street pub after it had closed.
He got into an argument with another customer Jaydee Coupland and pushed her onto the floor.
The landlord Gary Brammall came from behind the bar and was punched to his head and body by Luck, also of High Street.
Mr Brammall returned to the bar where he was attacked again by Luck.
As Ms Coupland then tried to intervene, he punched her to the head and she was taken to the ground.
The court heard that Luck, 27, had no previous convictions.
His solicitor Bob Carr said that he had served the country for seven-and-a-half years, with roles within the Loyal Logistic Corps and bomb disposal.
Mr Carr said: “This saw him serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and he clearly saw things there that had an adverse effect on him.
“There was a culture of drinking in the Army.
“He doesn’t have a drinking problem but clearly alcohol has been a factor here.”
Mr Carr added that Luck had been drinking for six-and-a-half hours and described himself as an eight or nine on a scale of one to 10 in terms of drunkenness.
The solicitor added: “He couldn’t recollect a great deal but he’s totally ashamed of his actions.”
Judge Fanning told the father-of-one: “You reached out and seized a bottle and one of the individuals feared you would use this.
“This sort of violence is intolerable.”
Luck was sentenced to a community order with 120 hours of unpaid work.
He must pay £100 compensation to each of the victims as well as £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.
