The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Magistrates told a defendant there had been “faults on both sides”, after he claimed police overreacted to his behaviour outside a Spalding night spot.
Liam James Parker (22), of Hall Place, Spalding, admitted obstructing the police when he appeared before magistrates at Boston.
Prosecuting, Jim Clare said police officers were in a van outside Loaded night club in Westlode Street in the early hours of December 23, when Parker walked into the path of the van and the driver had to manoeuvre around him.
He said Parker then banged on the side of the van and when officers got out to speak to him and ask him to move on, he became “aggressive and swore”.
When they went to arrest him, he was struggling and had to be forced to the ground and restricted. He added that Parker had previous convictions for assault and driving with excess alcohol.
Mitigating, Suleman Baig said Parker did not dispute that he was a “bit tipsy” after a night out with friends, but they had been crossing the road and the police van did not slow down for them at all and he hit the side of the van to make a point that they could have slowed down and let them pass.
He said Parker alleged the police were “aggressive and pounced on him”. He said it was a “minor issue that had escalated”.
Fining Parker £153 and ordering him to pay £115 in costs and charges, the magistrates said there had been “faults on both sides but ‘it would have been wiser to walk away”.
