Ex-Rotherham Titans star escapes jail over Whitby bar brawl

The strapping builder (47, pictured), threw punches “indiscriminately” inside the packed Abbey Wharf bar in Whitby, Scarborough Magistrates’ Court heard.

Bunting, of Clarence Place, Maltby, lashed out after receiving a call from home telling him his father Colin had died of a heart attack - and being taunted by a group of men when he burst into tears.

The rugby player — currently at Dinnington — was on a seaside trip with about 50 other men to celebrate a 50th birthday but lost his cool when the group, thought to be fellow builders from Rotherham, started “goading and taunting” him, the court was told.

Despite leaving a doorman injured as he tried to break up the scrap, Bunting —  Rotherham Rugby Club’s record appearance holder — was spared a prison term, with magistrates instead opting to fine the front row forward £400 and order him to carry out 80 hours’ unpaid work.

Prosecutor Mr Philip Morris said Bunting was seen attacking members of the public “indiscriminately”.

Door supervisor David Garner saw him “randomly punching” people in the bar and other men throwing punches back. 

Mr Garner tried to push Bunting away and jumped on his back, but Bunting hit him at least twice.

Bunting’s 18-year-old son Morgan, believing his father was under attack, assaulted another doorman during the melee on June 9.

Bunting senior’s friends ushered him out of the pub, but the violence continued in the street. 

Police arrived and a sergeant told the men to stop, but the raging prop forward called him a “f****** little b*****”.

“He was threatening to assault the officer,” added prosecutor Mr Martin Butterworth at Tuesday’s sentencing.

The police sergeant took out his stun gun and tasered Bunting twice, once when he was on the ground, before he was finally cuffed.

Bunting senior was charged with common assault, resisting a police officer and a public order offence. 

He denied the charges and appeared for what was due to be a trial at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on Friday, but admitted assault and resisting an officer on the day of trial. The other charge was dropped.

Bunting’s lawyer Mr Peter Large said his client was ordinarily a hard-working, “decent, solid man of the community” who had been provoked by the group of about six men who also worked in construction and disliked Bunting.

“My client’s had difficulties over a number of years in the little villages outside Rotherham with people who simply don’t like him,” added Mr Large.

“Some of them are in a rival builder’s firm and have taken against him.”

However, Mr Large said his client’s behaviour in Whitby was “disgraceful” and added: “He’s entirely ashamed of himself.”

The court heard that Bunting had previous convictions for criminal damage and public disorder, which led to a suspended prison sentence in 2015.  

David Auton, chair of magistrates, told him that his behaviour was “not the most shining example of fatherhood” but decided not to jail him.

Morgan Bunting, of the same address, admitted common assault and was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the doorman. 

Bunting played rugby 234 times for Rotherham in an 18-year career at the club, before moving to neighbours Doncaster.