A builder has been fined more than £1,000 after he headbutted a female police officer in the face. Liam Davies, of Ilkeston, caused his victim to "gasp out in pain" as the 34-year-old brought his head forward and used it to connect with her face, Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court heard.
At the time she was trying to place a soft pad on his head to stop him from hurting himself as he deliberately smashed it against the metal inside a cage in a Derbyshire police van after being arrested. But his defence solicitor told the hearing what his client did was in reaction to suddenly being sprayed in the face with CS gas by a different officer. Derbyshire Live reports.
The chair of the bench said: "The courts are not going to accept people behaving like you acted. We have heard you were in drink but you assaulted a police lady who was there to help you."
Do you think the death penalty should be brought back in the UK? Have your say in our poll
Lynn Bickley, prosecuting, said the offence took place at around 1.30am, on February 8, in Lime Street, Ilkeston. She said officers stopped the defendant and arrested him for other matters which were not revealed to the court.
The prosecutor said Davies, of Ilkeston, started to assault an officer by "kicking out with his legs" and a van, which has a cage inside it, was requested so he could be put into it to calm down and be taken into custody. Miss Bickley said: "He continued to resist the officers as they were trying to put him in the back of the vehicle and once inside it he was still being aggressive.
"He started smashing the inside of the cage wall and an officer tried to put a soft pad to help restrain him but he was still shouting. She tried to use the pad and he pulled his head back and head-butted her to the face.
"She gasped out in pain and got out of the van while other officers restrained him. She suffered reddening across her nose and face and suffered pain to the bridge of her nose."
The defendant, of Walnut Close, Ilkeston, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker. In his interview, he said he had been drinking, was arrested, did not know what was happening and panicked. Miss Bickley said: "When it was mentioned he had head-butted a female police officer in the back of a van he said he was sorry but he could not remember the offence."
Magistrates fined Davies £750 and ordered him to pay £65 compensation to the officer, £85 prosecution costs and a £300 victim surcharge - £1,200 in total - which he has 28 days to pay in full. Simon Stevens, his solicitor, said his client works as a self-employed builder and earns £450 per week.
He said: "He wishes to apologise for his behaviour, this was a reckless act but not an intentional head-butt. This gentleman was stopped by the police and CS spray was discharged into his face immediately. He could not breathe and he was unable to see."
READ NEXT:
- The Meadows murder accused says it would be 'crazy' to set up killing outside mum's house
- Jury told about calls made by man accused of murdering Michael Anton O'Connor in The Meadows
- Van driver rammed police cars during 63-mile chase along M1
Nottinghamshire mum drank wine and assaulted cinema staff during Spider-Man movie
Nottinghamshire drug dealer flushed £6,500 worth of heroin down toilet
