A Newport man who destroyed the windscreen of a car before injuring 2 police officers has appeared before Isle of Wight Magistrates.
26-year-old David Jason Haynes, of Trafalgar Road, Newport, admitted 3 offences including causing criminal damage and 2 counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker.
Ann Smout, prosecuting, told the court that at around midnight on 8th June, officers were called to an ongoing incident in Trafalgar Road near its junction with New Street. A member of the public had turned onto the road in their Ford Focus when they saw Haynes stood in the road.
The court was told that the defendant then proceeded to climb onto the bonnet of the vehicle and smashed the windscreen before climbing onto the roof, causing further damage.
Information from the attending police officers revealed that upon their arrival, Haynes was on the floor nearby being restrained by a woman. Upon taking over the restraint, officers were subjected to abuse with the defendant attempting to kick – and bite the thumb of – a female officer. Minor injuries were also sustained by another officer who suffered grazes to their knees.
Haynes, who has no previous convictions, made full admissions of his actions whilst being interviewed at Newport Police Station – also disclosing that he and a friend had consumers quantities of alcohol in the lead up to the incident.
Haynes was handed a 12-month community order including 150 hours of unpaid work. He must pay £125 in compensation, costs of £85 and a £95 surcharge alongside completing 10 rehabilitation days.
This derisory sentence does not send out the message that this criminal and violent behaviour will not be tolerated.
Any violence against Police should carry at least a suspended custodial sentence and the compensation should be much higher.
The costs of £85 also seem unrealistically low.
If he had jumped on to the bonnet of my car, I would have slammed it into reverse briefly and watched him fly off the bonnet to the ground. It is unlikely i would bother to wait around to see if he was able to get back to his feet.
Good job it wasn’t your car then, or you’d probably be charged with dangerous driving and wreckless endangerment yourself for those actions
Don’t forget fleeing the scene of an accident
not an accident ed – it would be a defensive move against an intentionally aggressive attack by a drunk scumbag
and adam – you are just the sort of hand wringing, apologist, do gooder that allows sc umbags like that to walk away from court without facing any consequences.
there would be no dangerous driving as the road behind would be clear and a reversal of the car in that situation is perfectly legal and safe. If some deadbeat has stupidly chosen to get on to the bonnet of my car and trying to smash the windscreen, which threatens my safety, then the action is also self defence – the scu mbag would be on the road suffering and left there, that you can be assured of.
adam – i bet your also the sort of person who would curl up in a ball and take a kicking, rather than fight back, in case you faced charges of fighting and assault.
Of course the fines will in no way cover the actual costs to the motorist for their increased insurance premiums or the inconvenience to them of having their car wrecked – in such cases the perpetrators should be made to cover the full costs of repair and also of hiring another vehicle, then a sum in compensation on top
Just wondering where these Magistrates actually live? They seem to be on another planet, along with the idiot who did all the damage! Do they actually think that £125 in compo, probably split between the Policewoman and car owner, will even cover the excess on the Insurance? I wonder if the answer is in fact to just drive off with the guy on the bonnet until he falls off and accept the punishment! Probably get a £30 fine, way cheaper than what happened here.
I just feel sorry for the poor old police man who grazed his knees, I bet he will be off sick for the next six months….bless