Man assaulted police officer who took him for treatment at Sunderland Royal Hopsital after he injured himself smashing windows at his hostel

Anthony Oliver smashed two windows then tried to punch a security guard at the Norfolk Hotel in Sunderland on Boxing Day 2018.

Newcastle Crown Court heard police arrived after Oliver smashed a third pane and he was then taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital for treatment to injuries he suffered from the broken glass.

Prosecutor Andrew Walker told the court Oliver lashed out when he got to the hospital.

Mr Walker said: "The defendant was handcuffed at that point but he lunged towards the police officer, who manged to block the defendant's blows with his hands.

"The defendant did not in fact make contact with his face but he got very close, just inches away, according to the officer.

"The defendant had to be restrained while he received medical treatment."

The police officer said in a statement he had been trying to safeguard Oliver's welfare when he took him to hospital and "didn't deserve" to have him behave violently in return.

Oliver, 43, of Ravenwood Road, Sunderland, admitted assault on an emergency worker, common assault and criminal damage.

Annalisa Moscardini, defending, told the court Oliver has a history of mental health problems and spent more than a year detained in hospital after the offences.

Miss Moscardini added: "There is a lot of mitigation due to his mental health issues.

"He has completely turned his life around, he has been in hospital for 16 months, he did well in hospital, came out and has caused no further trouble.

"He is a different person."

Mr Recorder John Aitken sentenced Oliver to a conditional discharge for 12 months.

The judge told him: "Stay out of trouble for 12 months and you will hear no more about it."

Since the incident, the Norfolk Hotel has had a change of ownership and is set for a new future fitting of its grand past.

It was bought by Sunderland City Council in 2019 and will be redeveloped as part of sweeping transformation plans for the city centre.

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