A young motorcyclist with a history of drug use angrily punched a policeman in the face after trying desperately to escape over a fence – but getting only half way over it before he was caught.
James Smith was foiled in his bungled bid to flee from the scene of a confrontation after the quick-thinking constable grabbed hold of his top, causing it to start to rip, Hull Crown Court heard.
Smith, 21, of Wilmington Park, Bedford Street, east Hull, admitted offences of assault, possessing cocaine and having no insurance on July 20. He was in breach of a 20-month suspended custodial sentence imposed on October 10, 2022 for possessing cocaine with intent to supply, possessing cannabis and possessing a knife.
Maya Hanson, prosecuting, said that plainclothes police went to Belmont Street, east Hull, because of suspicious activity involving a motorcycle that had possibly been stolen in that area.
Two males were seen, one of them Smith. A motorcycle ridden by him, with a single headlight on, was seen coming towards a female police officer. She asked him to stop so that he would not run over her.
He did not have any insurance and he was wearing a balaclava. He ran down the back of an alleyway. Smith pushed a male officer and tried to make off.
“He continued to try to pull away,” said Miss Hanson. Smith got half way over a fence but police managed to get hold of his top, which started to rip. He swung a punch at the constable, hitting him in the mouth and causing a cut to his lip.
Smith was arrested. While in custody, he was searched and two small bags of cocaine were found. He had convictions for eight previous offences, including five for drugs.
Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said that the police officers were in plainclothes but, with foresight, Smith should have realised that they would be police and not acted in the way that he did. It was a very short journey on the motorcycle.
“He has very much let himself down with this very silly decision,” said Mr Shipley. “He is very sorry for his actions on this day and, if he could go back, he would have acted very differently. The drugs were for his personal use.”
Smith owned a caravan and he was waiting for a spot to site it. He was working full-time as a fabricator and welder.
Judge John Thackray KC told Smith: “When challenged by the police, you behaved in a disgraceful fashion, failing to respond to the officer’s request to stop and then, knowing full well that it was a police officer, punching him in the face.
“He was just going about his job. Your case is seriously aggravated by the fact that you were the subject of a suspended sentence.”
Smith was given a six-month suspended prison sentence, 100 hours’ unpaid work and 10 days’ rehabilitation. He was ordered to pay £500 compensation to the constable.
Smith was warned that he faced a prison sentence if he committed any more offences in the next year. “Regard this as your final chance,” said Judge Thackray.
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