Man who stabbed pub landlord in neck jailed

A man has been jailed after he stabbed a pub landlord in the neck following an argument outside a village inn.

Builder Gary Holdsworth got into a row over payment at the George & Dragon in Melmerby, near Ripon, on 4 December 2025, before attacking 46-year-old Michael Ryan outside, Leeds Crown Court heard.

In August, the 52-year-old, of Melmerby, was found not guilty of attempted murder but guilty of wounding with intent and possessing a knife in a public space.

On Friday, the married father-of-five was jailed for six years and six months and handed a restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim and his partner.

The court was told that Holdsworth and his friend Radk Szatkowski, 41, of Wath near Ripon, had got into a drunken argument with Mr Ryan which spilled outside the pub where punches were thrown before Holdsworth took a knife out of his pocket.

As he slashed Mr Ryan "about three times" on the neck, Holdsworth told him: "You're gonna die; I'm going to kill you."

Following the incident, Mr Ryan was taken to hospital where he needed surgery to serious injuries.

Holdsworth fled the scene after the attack, but was arrested at his home address shortly afterwards.

Szatkowski was charged with affray, but was found not guilty.

In a victim personal statement, Mr Ryan's partner told the court: "My boyfriend is a kind, loving, and caring man.

"On that day, he was stabbed in the neck and nearly lost his life.

"This was not just an attack - it was something that could have taken him away from all of us forever."

She added her life had "completely changed" since the stabbing, leaving her with "constant worry" about what happened.

"This incident has deeply affected not just me, but our entire family. It has taken away our sense of safety, peace, and normal life."

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... you went for a night out with your friend... and you got monumentally drunk. In this state, you behaved in a way that was wholly out of character for you.

"This is exceptionally serious offending: had it been a few millimetres either side, it would have been murder [and] an automatic life sentence."

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