Ripon businessman jailed for six-and-a-half years after stabbing landlord outside village pub

A high-flying businessman who stabbed a pub landlord in the neck, causing gaping wounds, has been jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Gary Holdsworth, 52, plunged a knife or cutter into the neck of 44-year-old Michael Ryan outside the George & Dragon in Melmerby, near Ripon.

As he slashed the landlord “about three times” with what one witness described as a “click knife”, Holdsworth told Mr Ryan: “You’re gonna die - I’m going to kill you.”

Mr Ryan suffered three “slashing” wounds, one of which was a few millimetres from the main salivary gland, Leeds Crown Court heard.

He was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough where he underwent surgery and survived.

Holdsworth, a successful local builder, was charged with attempted murder, carrying a blade and an alternative charge of wounding with intent.

In August, a jury found him not guilty of attempted murder, but guilty of wounding with intent.

Holdsworth, a married father-of-five from Melmerby, appeared for sentence today (October 30) after being remanded in custody following the trial.

Prosecutor Anne Richardson said that Holdsworth and his friend Radk Szatkowski, 41, of Main Street, in Wath near Ripon, had gone into the country pub late on the evening of December 4 last year to celebrate Mr Szatkowski’s 40th birthday.

It was alleged that Mr Szatkowski, who was charged with affray but found not guilty, became “drunk and belligerent” and had an argument with Mr Ryan, ostensibly over the payment for some drinks near closing time.

Mr Ryan, known as Mick, told Mr Szatkowski to get out of his pub, whereupon the two men argued as the landlord tried to escort him out.

Holdsworth, who was initially acting as peacemaker between the two men, followed them outside into the front car park where the heated exchange continued and a fight broke out between Mr Ryan and Mr Szatkowski at about 11.20pm.

Ms Richardson said that after some pushing and shoving, and punches being thrown by both men, Holdsworth came over and got on top of Mr Ryan’s back.

Holdsworth then took a sharp object, thought to be a knife, out of his pocket and repeatedly stabbed Mr Ryan in the neck.

As blood seeped from the landlord’s neck, two other men who had been drinking in the pub came running out after hearing a woman’s screams.

One of them split up the fight and dragged Mr Ryan back inside the pub where he applied pressure to his neck wound, using a jumper to stem the profuse bleeding.

Mr Ryan’s partner Siri Wan Fawcett, who worked as a chef at the pub/restaurant on Main Street, made a 999 call.

She told the operator in broken English that someone had “slashed his throat” and that there was “blood everywhere”.

An ambulance arrived and took the “badly injured” Mr Ryan to hospital where he underwent surgery to repair his neck wounds.

Prosecuting barrister Ms Richardson said that in the hours leading up to the incident, Holdsworth went to another pub, The George Country Inn, in the nearby village of Wath, where Mr Szatkowski was a chef.

The two men spent an hour at The George, drinking a bottle of whisky “amongst other things”, before going to The George & Dragon, arriving there just before 11pm.

“It appeared to be a fairly uneventful evening until an argument broke out between Mr Ryan and Polish national Mr Szatkowski, ostensibly over payment for drinks, but more likely due to Mr Szatkowski’s belligerent and drunken behaviour,” said Ms Richardson.

She said that the dispute between the landlord and Mr Szatkowski had “nothing to do with Gary Holdsworth”, but he too went outside after his friend was ejected from the pub, saying: “Let’s sort it out.”

The prosecution alleged that just before going outside to the car park, Holdsworth turned to two other men inside the pub and called them deeply offensive names, before adding: “This is where it gets tasty.”

Outside, Mr Ryan told Mr Szatkowski that he was barred and “not to come in anymore, telling him to go home”.

“Punches were exchanged and then Gary Holdsworth also became involved and got onto Mr Ryan’s back,” said Ms Richardson.

“The Crown’s case is that Gary Holdsworth produced a knife, seen clearly by Siri Fawcett, and used it three times on Mr Ryan, saying to him, ‘You’re gonna die, I’m going to kill you’.

Ms Richardson said that after the named male witness dragged Mr Holdsworth back into the pub and stemmed the bleeding with a fleece jumper, Holdsworth and Mr Szatkowski went back inside to the toilets.

“No doubt both of them wanted to wash their hands,” she added.

As Holdsworth left the pub and passed the stricken landlord lying on the floor and bleeding out, he was heard to say something along the lines of “that’ll be a lesson learned”.

Police arrived at the scene and went in search of Holdsworth and Mr Szatkowski who appeared to have “gone in opposite directions”.

Holdsworth arrived at his home near the pub at about 11.30pm and Mr Szatkowski arrived there shortly afterwards.

Police went to Holdsworth’s five-bedroom home in the early hours of the following morning and arrested him and Mr Szatkowski.

Holdsworth told police he had been “very drunk” and only had a “hazy recollection of events” from leaving the first pub, the George Country Inn, as he had shared a bottle of whisky there with Mr Szatkowski and then had five more pints at the George & Dragon.

Ms Richardson said that one of the lacerations to Mr Ryan’s neck was deep enough to cause muscle damage and needed flushing out. All his wounds were sutured.

“The fact that Mr Ryan’s injuries were not life-threatening in the end, despite one of the injuries coming close to the main salivary gland, owes more to good luck than anything else,” she added.

The prosecution read out a statement from the victim’s partner Ms Fawcett, who lived above the pub with her partner.

She said the incident had had a “deep” and lasting impact on their family and described her partner as a “kind, loving and caring man”.

“This is not just an attack - it is something that could have taken him away from all of us forever,” she added.

“Since that day my life has completely changed. I live with fear and anxiety.

“It has taken away my sense of safety, peace and normal life.

“It’s had a lasting effect on our home and business (which) no longer feels like a place of safety.”

The court heard that prior to the day of the attack, Holdsworth had “developed a dislike” for Mr Ryan and had “sent him emails demonstrating that”.

Defence barrister Sean Smith said that Holdsworth was well-known in the village and many character references testified to his being regarded as a “hard-working, honest, devoted family man willing to help others”.

He described Holdsworth’s actions as a “moment of madness” after initially being the peacekeeper.

Judge Neil Clark told Holdsworth: “You were hitherto of good character.

“You were a successful man, you had a successful business, and you have a loving and caring family.

“Very many people speak highly of you, yet despite all of that, on December 4 last year you went for a night out with your friend Mr Szatkowski and you got monumentally drunk.

“In this state, you behaved in a way that was wholly out of character for you.”

He added: “This is exceptionally serious offending: had it been a few millimetres either side (of the victim’s neck), it would have been murder (and) an automatic life sentence.

“As a result of this, you stand to lose everything.

“Your family will undoubtedly suffer as a result of this night of uncharacteristic behaviour.”

He said it was clear that Holdsworth had used “a knife or something similar” to inflict “three “significant wounds” to the landlord.

Holdsworth was jailed for six-and-a-half years but was told that he would only serve about half that time in prison before being released on licence.

The senior investigating officer for the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Cheryl Quinn, said: "I welcome the sentencing of Gary Holdsworth who has been held accountable for his shocking actions of that night.

"The use of a knife to inflict such a serious injury is a deeply concerning act of violence with the potential to cause life threatening harm and devastating consequences for victims and their families.

“My thoughts remain with the victim as he continues to deal with the physical and emotional impact of this incident.

“We recognise the lasting effects that offences of this nature have on individuals, families, and the wider community.

“This case serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of carrying and using knives.

“Violence of this nature will be treated with the utmost seriousness, and we remain committed to working with our partners and the community to prevent knife crime, protect the public and bring offenders to justice.”

Holdsworth’s co-accused, a 41-year-old man was charged with affray, but was found not guilty.