An angry assault suspect shoved a police officer into a shelving unit after PAVA spray was deployed on him.
Drunk William Giles took exception to constables turning up at his Wallsend home and quickly turned aggressive when he was told he was going to be arrested. However, the 51-year-old's behaviour escalated further, forcing police to deploy their PAVA spray, an incapacitant similar to pepper spray, a court heard.
Giles then reacted by lashing out at one of the officers and forcibly shoved him with both hands, sending him flying into a shelving unit. Fortunately, he wasn't injured, prosecutors said.
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Now, Giles, of Ridley Avenue, in Wallsend, has been fined £400 after he pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £165 victim surcharge.
Prosecutor, Rob Lawson, said police were called to Giles's address after reports of an assault on June 7 this year. Mr Lawson added: "The officers spoke with the defendant, who was suspected of carrying out the assault.
"While one officer was attempting to arrest him, the defendant became aggressive, causing the officer to have to use their PAVA spray. When the officer took hold of him, he pushed the officer with both hands and caused the officer to fall into shelving. No injuries are noted."
There was no evidence to suggest that any further action was taken on Giles, who has previous convictions but not since 2007, for the initial assault arrest. Mark Harrison, defending, said: "He's really sorry about what happened and acknowledges that his behaviour was not appropriate and he would like to apologise to the officer.
"He had had a drink. He was really nervous about going into hospital the following day for surgery, so he had a drink."
