Colchester: Man sentenced for drunken attack

3:00pm Thursday 20th November 2008

A drunken reveller spat at a police car and headbutted an officer after being thrown out of a Colchester nightclub.

Doormen had ejected Ashley Dawson from Route nightclub in Queen Street, just after midnight on September 27, and he was then seen to throw a punch into a crowd of people, Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.

Robin Harrison, prosecuting, said Dawson, 22, lashed out and struggled as door staff tried to restrain him and when police got involved he continued to struggle, spat at their car and swore.

“He then headbutted a female officer to the side of her face and she had to punch him in order to restrain him to get him in the car,” said Mr Harrison.

The court heard the officer had a large swelling on her face as a result of the incident and cuts to her hand.

Dawson, of Maldon Road, Colchester, had admitted assaulting a police officer and being drunk and disorderly at an earlier hearing.

Anna Perera, mitigating, said it was the first time Dawson had been in trouble for a while and he was very upset with himself because he had begun to sort himself out, overcome a drug problem, got himself a job and was looking after himself.

But Mrs Perera said that night he had gone out and got drunk after discovering his long-term girlfriend had also been having a relationship with his best friend.

“He realises that the court views this very seriously, he takes this matter very seriously himself.

“He has a great deal of regret for what took place, he is very disappointed because he has made an effort to deal with the drug issue and the second aspect is he has found himself a good job which even has prospects of promotion,” she added.

Magistrates jailed Dawson for four months, suspended for 12 months, during which time he will be the subject of a supervision order and must take part in the Think First Programme to deal with his behaviour.

There was no separate penalty for the charge of being drunk and disorderly.

He must also pay £250 compensation to the injured officer and £70 toward costs.

Editor's Choice