South Shields retail manager assaulted three police officers during his arrest in Sunderland
A South Tyneside retail manager assaulted three police officers while being put in a caged van after his arrest for being drunk and disorderly, a court heard.
Charlie Rodman, 23, kicked out at a WPC, causing her to fall over in Sunderland city centre’s Holmeside in the early hours of Sunday, July 13.
Rodman, of Embleton Avenue, Horsley Hill, South Shields, then kicked a policeman in the tummy, prosecutor John Garside said.
And he rounded off his violence by kicking a second male officer in his groin area, magistrates in South Tyneside were told.
He has now been ordered to pay his victims £50 compensation each after pleading guilty to three counts of assaulting police in the execution of their duty.
Mr Garside said: “Police were asked to attend Holmeside at around 1.30am.
“The defendant was abusive and shouting and swearing and when arrested, he assaulted the officers.
“He kicked out towards the WPC, who has fallen to the ground and there was immediate soreness to her buttocks.
“He has then assaulted a second officer by kicking him to the stomach, causing him to stumble backwards.
“The defendant has also kicked the third officer in the crotch, causing immediate pain.
“He comes before the court with no previous conviction or cautions.”
Ian Cassidy, defending Rodman, who also admitted a charge of being drunk and disorderly, said: “Mr Rodman entered court as a man of good character.
“He’s extremely remorseful and embarrassed by this incident.
“He went out with some friends for some drinks and drank far too much and later went for a taxi.
“He saw a female being assaulted by some men and tried to assist. That’s why the police were called.
“He was arrested, quite rightly, for being drunk and disorderly, and was put in a police van.
“He says that he can’t quite rightly explain his behaviour. He says what the police say about it, that he kicked out, is quite right.
“He describes it as reckless. The injuries to the officers were slight.
“I think he was taken to hospital with an injury in which he cut his head in the van. He has learned from this.”
Magistrates also fined Rodman £376, with a £150 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.