UPDATE

READ: Daniel Astin's conviction for this offence has now been overturned and he is not guilty of assaulting a police officer.

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A MAN who assaulted a police officer was eventually brought to justice nearly two years later.

Blackburn magistrates heard in the meantime Daniel Astin had been the subject of a missing persons inquiry at a time when he had gone to Kenya to do voluntary work.

Astin, 31, of no fixed address, was convicted in his absence of assaulting an emergency worker. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Steve Woodman, prosecuting, said the offence went back to December 2019 when police were called to a public order incident in Oak Street, Burnley.

Neighbours identified Astin as being responsible and when officers knocked on his door he came out bare-chested and started shouting at them.

Astin blamed his neighbours for the disturbance and said he would be “going round there”.

He went towards a knife in the kitchen and the officer took hold of him and said he was being arrested.

“At that point he became violent and started kicking the officer,” said Mr Woodman.

Mark Williams, defending, said at the time his client had a lot of problems and was struggling with depression.

“He felt isolated and that his neighbours were getting at him,” said Mr Williams. “He didn’t trust anyone and felt everyone was against him.”

Mr Williams said his client then disappeared, there were real concerns for him and he became the subject of a missing persons inquiry.

“He had in fact gone to Kenya to do voluntary work and that is where he has been until he flew back into the country two days ago,” said Mr Williams.

He said Astin had flagged up with airport immigration that there may be a warrant out for his arrest but they found nothing.

“When he came back to Burnley he went to see his parents and then went to the police station and they found the warrant for his arrest,” said Mr Williams.