Man in court for two attacks on police and paramedics staff within months in Sunderland

A Sunderland man appeared in court after he attacked police twice in the space of five months.
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Lee Kennedy, 31, of Poplar House, near Hendon Road, lashed out after officers intervened to support an ambulance crew trying to treat him at about 11pm on March 19.

South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told paramedics were called after Kennedy was seen hitting himself over the head with a bottle.

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At one point he told police “I’ll fight all of yous” – and had to have a spit mask put over his head and be restrained to a hospital bed.

The case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court.The case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court.
The case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court.

The court heard Kennedy carried out a second attack at 5pm on August 20, after police tried to arrest him in connection with a previous offence.

After being handcuffed, he kicked away the legs of a PC, sending him, his female partner and Kennedy to the ground.

During the tumble the male officer banged his head on the curb, leaving him dazed and he and his colleague in need of back-up and help from the public.

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Of the first incident, prosecutor Clare Irving said: “Officers were called to Eden Terrace to reports that a male had hit himself over the head with a bottle.

“He was very drunk. He used his hand to wipe his head, then licked the blood from him. He was asked to calm down.”

Mrs Irving said Kennedy was put into a police van but repeatedly banged his head against the side and spat on an officer’s wrist and was instead put in a police car and taken to hospital.

Even there, Kennedy continued to lash out and had to be restrained to a bed.

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The court heard the second incident was sparked when police were called to a heated argument among a group in Maritime Street, in the city centre.

They spotted Kennedy walking away while muttering to himself and was told he was wanted for another matter.

Mrs Irving said after being handcuffed Kennedy kicked away the male PC’s legs, adding: “The defendant fell to the floor along with the two officers. The officers were concerned for their safety throughout.”

She said the male PC suffered whiplash and aching and his colleague grazes, cuts and bruises.

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Jason Smith, defending, said Kennedy suffered serious mental health issues.

He said his client had a personality-based psychosis and a pathological fear of hospitals or their facilities, adding: “For the first offence, they were trying to get him into an ambulance.

“He didn’t want to go into the ambulance, the last thing he wanted was anything to do with the medical services.

“For the second offence, he says that he just wanted to be left alone. He had no intention of hurting the police, he just wanted to get away.”

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Kennedy, who pleaded guilty to two charges of assault by beating an emergency worker and two charges of obstructing a PC at an earlier hearing, was given an 18-month community order for all offences.

He must undertake 40 days’ rehabilitation work with the Probation Service, pay each of the four officers £50 compensation and £100 court costs.