A JUDGE feared for his life after an irate man launched a terrifying attack on him in a courtroom, hurling a radiator, and chasing him into his chambers to rain blow after blow at his head.
Greg Hazletine, 41, launched into the assault during a bitter family court dispute with his former partner and after he was banned from visiting his children's school.
Southwark Crown Court heard that during the attack he jumped onto a table and then onto the judge's bench, before chasing
Judge Patrick Perusko entered his Chambers and another hearing room at Milton Keynes County Court.
Once he caught up with him, he landed repeated punches to the judge's head, while hurling abuse.
Hazletine was sentenced last week for the assault and an earlier incident when he hurled abuse at another family court judge during an earlier hearing when he appeared before Recorder Dharmesh Patel on July 13 last year.
When an order was issued against him, he became visibly agitated, interrupted the judge repeatedly, and shouted aggressively for the judge to “be a man,” Southwark Crown Court heard.
That judge pressed a panic alarm and went to leave court, causing Hazletine to shout: “Why don't you come here let's go outside. Call security like you did last time you f***ing weasel.”
More senior Judge Perusko was brought in to take over the case due to his behavior.
However, he also faced Hazletin'e fury on November 29 last year.
The defendant lost iot as Judge Perusko placed a non-molestation order on him, banning him from visiting his children's school.
As Judge Perusko tried to leave the court to escape his anger, he threw the metal radiator towards him, before leaping onto the bench.
“The Judge ran out of the door of the court to his chambers and through two doors into the hearing room one where District Judge Nutley was working”, said Mr Justice Goss.
“You pursued and caught up with him as he got past District Judge Nutley and pushed him to the corner of the room, he hit his head on the metal base of a coat stand.
“You pinned him down with your body weight, your hand on top of his chest and throat and punched him to the head a number of times.”
District Judge Nutley described the attack as “relentless”.
“Every blow you delivered to Judge Perusko was with a clenched fist”, said Mr. Justice Goss.
“Your face was bright red. You would occasionally stop punching him to say something abusive or threatening and would then start punching him again.
“He started talking to you saying it would all be okay. Your partner and the security officer had followed and eventually found you.
“She pleaded with you to stop, but you ignored them telling the Judge to promise that he would let you see the children.
“They tried to pull you off and eventually you let go enabling the judge to leave the room.”
Judge Perusko suffered wounds, swelling, and bruising to his head, he had back pain in the following weeks, and said he “feared for his life at the time you attacked him”, said Mr Justice Goss.
“When angered, there is a significant risk of you using physical violence and causing serious injury…
“You were out of control and have very little insight into your behaviour, the role of the judge and the very frightening ordeal to which you subjected him.
“He considers you have issues with regulating your emotions and temper and seek to resolve issues by resorting to physical violence, acting impulsively and failing to see the potential harm,” he added.
Hazletine, from Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire, has previous convictions for assault on a traffic warden in 2004 and an assault on his former partner's mother in a playground.
Mr. Justice Goss sentenced Hazledine to three years in prison, for the assault on Judge Perusko, the criminal damage and the previous incident with the other judge.
Hazletine, who admitted the offenses last December, told the court he was “truly sorry” for his behavior.