East Lancashire police officer's career in doubt after attack by youth (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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East Lancashire police officer's career in doubt after attack by youth
11:24am Tuesday 16th March 2010 in
A POLICE officer’s career is hanging in the balance after a violent yob booted him and smashed his arm in two places, a court was told.
PC Michael Johnson’s arm was smashed when his 17-year-old attacker took a running kick at him as he tried to detain the defendant’s friend.
The victim is now facing an uncertain future as one of the bones has not healed, Burnley Youth Court heard.
The Nelson youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was on bail for an unprovoked assault on a woman and for stamping on a man on the same day and had been taking drink and drugs when he struck in the early hours of January 16.
He is now starting a 22-month term of detention, after admitting causing grievous bodily harm with intent to prevent lawful apprehension of an-other person and two charges of assault causing actual bodily harm.
The prosecutor said the officer was last seen by medics on March 4 and had been told if the injury did not heal and he has to have a plate in it, his career could be affected, because of potential weakness in his arm.
Miss Reddish added: “At this stage he still doesn't know whether his police career could be in jeopardy or not.”
The defendant was interviewed, said he had been to an 18th birthday party and told officers he could not remember what had happened that night. The officer had been on duty alone in Burnley town centre when he saw a group of young men, one of them apparently snorting cocaine.
He found a bag of powder on him, told the youth he was under arrest but he ran off, turning into Ormerod Street with the officer in pursuit.
A bouncer from Smackwater Jacks club detained him, he struggled and both the youth and PC Johnson went to the ground.
The officer was on top of him trying to restrain him and the 17-year-old ran at PC Johnson aiming a kick at his head.
The victim managed to shield his head with his arm but it was broken in two places.
The 17-year-old was finally detained by other patrols and door staff.
Nick Cassidy, for the defendant, said he had witnessed domestic violence. accepted he had issues that perhaps needed addressing and intended to obtain counselling. He accepted drink and drugs were not the answer.
Comments(13)
past it
says...
1:41pm Tue 16 Mar 10
Davidoff wrote:Wow you do like a rant dont you, but agree with most of your comment. But you did not have a dig at darwen are you slipping ?
'who cannot be named for legal reasons' Rubbish! He's very clearly a danger to the public so why can't he be named or a picture so we can know to stay well clear of him. Not exactly protecting the public is it! Here we go again drink and drugs. And some pathetic things about his childhood. Time our courts saw through this garbage! People have witnessed far worse in this world as children, they grow up perfectly okay. Everyone has a choice in life in how they wish to behave as they grow older. So let's stop with this 'protect the victim' lark because this is clearly a very dangerous and violent menace to the public! He'll do it again. They always do. Do it because the justice system doesn't punish them when it should in favour of listening to stories about their rotten childhood, how they take drugs and all of that is not their fault as to how they behave. WRONG! It's entirely their own faults to choose not to behave like this. To take drugs, drink. No one failed this person except themselves. Before anyone uses the 'society failed' them garbage to apologize for their behaviour. Oh, and on top of that he's getting counselling for his problem. Crimes does get you perks as we all know it does. Behaving in a responsible manner in life then not getting things as easily as this scum is an utterly attrocious situation in this country. Commit a crime - get yourself free treatment at the same time. It all started when the do gooders in the 80s started sending juvenile crime waves off on safaris and overseas adventure holidays. Rewarding bad behaviour with treats, why the hell does anyone think crime has reached the level it has now reached in the UK!
AccyLass
says...
1:50pm Tue 16 Mar 10
I suffered incest as a child and 30 years on this still effects my life on a daily basis. A few years ago I plucked up the courage to seek help from my doctor. He referred me to the hospital because he thought I required specialist support but they said no (yes they really did say no!) and referred me back to my doctor.
I then went to a charitable women’s centre, who I’m sure a good job in some situation, but my experioence was to be sat in front of a ‘counsellor’ who I can only describe as ‘nodding dog’ that clock watched over my shoulder to ensure I didn't go over my allotted 30 minute slot.
Eventually I gave up this ‘counselling’ and continue to deal with it on my own to this day.
Perhaps I should commit a crime to
get the help I need…
chrislancs
says...
4:44pm Tue 16 Mar 10
The whole judicial system needs a complete overhaul from top to bottom. The English Democrats are commited to revewing law and order, crime and punishment.
Chris Reid PPC
English Democrats
Hyndburn/Haslingden
Izanears
says...
4:44pm Tue 16 Mar 10
Burnleyite36
says...
5:18pm Tue 16 Mar 10
happycyclist
says...
5:48pm Tue 16 Mar 10
As Davidpff says, why can't we know who he is so that we can avoid him?
And AccyLass is right in that it always seems to be the bad 'uns who get all the help and resources. It's so wrong.
Vote Labour for 5 more years of this.
burnleyite
says...
6:26pm Tue 16 Mar 10
- what lie was told there? He accepted he had done wrong. Without Defence Solicitors no one can have a proper defence prepared, subsequently have a fair trial and then potentially have a proper conviction. This is not the 11th century!
And we can't name him because he is still a child!
I'm sure we would all run to a Defence Solicitor if we were accused or did something unlawful!
happycyclist
says...
12:32am Wed 17 Mar 10
burnleyite wrote:No, actually we wouldn't all run to a defence solicitor if we did something wrong. Some of us are big enough, responsible enough and brave enough to admit when we are in the wrong without trying to squirm out of it.
"Nick Cassidy, for the defendant, said he had witnessed domestic violence. accepted he had issues that perhaps needed addressing and intended to obtain counselling. He accepted drink and drugs were not the answer. "
- what lie was told there? He accepted he had done wrong. Without Defence Solicitors no one can have a proper defence prepared, subsequently have a fair trial and then potentially have a proper conviction. This is not the 11th century!
And we can't name him because he is still a child!
I'm sure we would all run to a Defence Solicitor if we were accused or did something unlawful!
Witnessing domestic violence isn't an excuse for violently kicking someone else in the head when they're trying to prevent you from doing more wrong things.
He chose to kick another person in the head. Think about that. Think about how you'd feel if it was someone you loved who he'd assaulted and then ask yourself whether his 'defence' was valid.
disgusted tunbridge wells
says...
11:30am Wed 17 Mar 10
AnthonyUK
says...
1:50pm Wed 17 Mar 10
Dumb Blonde
says...
4:33pm Wed 17 Mar 10
ne has a choice as to how they behave as an adult.
All the best to the Police Officer and his future.
burnleyite
says...
10:08pm Wed 17 Mar 10
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Davidoff says...
11:40am Tue 16 Mar 10
Rubbish! He's very clearly a danger to the public so why can't he be named or a picture so we can know to stay well clear of him. Not exactly protecting the public is it!
Here we go again drink and drugs. And some pathetic things about his childhood. Time our courts saw through this garbage!
People have witnessed far worse in this world as children, they grow up perfectly okay. Everyone has a choice in life in how they wish to behave as they grow older.
So let's stop with this 'protect the victim' lark because this is clearly a very dangerous and violent menace to the public! He'll do it again. They always do. Do it because the justice system doesn't punish them when it should in favour of listening to stories about their rotten childhood, how they take drugs and all of that is not their fault as to how they behave. WRONG! It's entirely their own faults to choose not to behave like this. To take drugs, drink. No one failed this person except themselves. Before anyone uses the 'society failed' them garbage to apologize for their behaviour.
Oh, and on top of that he's getting counselling for his problem. Crimes does get you perks as we all know it does. Behaving in a responsible manner in life then not getting things as easily as this scum is an utterly attrocious situation in this country. Commit a crime - get yourself free treatment at the same time.
It all started when the do gooders in the 80s started sending juvenile crime waves off on safaris and overseas adventure holidays. Rewarding bad behaviour with treats, why the hell does anyone think crime has reached the level it has now reached in the UK!