An "obstructive", drunken man caused a nasty fracture to a police officer's leg during an arrest on Christmas Eve.
Paul Luke became aggressive when two police officers came to arrest him following a domestic violence call out over the Christmas holidays. The 38-year-old refused to get into a police van due to "claustrophobia" and ended up wrapping his legs around one officer, PC Gillespie, which caused him to fall over.
Luke landed on top of the officer, causing a fracture in two places which resulted in the policeman undergoing a three hour operation on Christmas Day where metal rods where fitted into his leg.
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Luke, of Waterville Road, North Shields, appeared at Newcastle's Moot Hall to be sentenced for assaulting an emergency worker and a section 20 offence. He had pleaded guilty.
The court was told that at around 8pm on December 24 2020, police were called to Luke's partner's home in North Shields following a suspected domestic assault. When they arrived, they were told Luke was at another address causing "further issues", before the officers found him in a "drunken and highly agitated" state.
Claire Anderson, prosecuting, said Luke was "shouting and swearing" while acting "irrationally and unpredictably", however, he then calmed down and was compliant with the police. She said: "He was handcuffed and had a cigarette when he said he was not going to get in the police van and that they would have to drag him in it.
"When the vehicle arrived, he was acting aggressively and refused to get in and was dragging his feet. He said he would kick off and said he was claustrophobic. He became more obstructive and sat on the kerb."
As the officers attempted to get Luke into the waiting police van, he wrapped his legs around PC Gillespie. Ms Anderson continued: "He kicked out at the officer, causing him to fall on the kerb and the defendant landed on top of him. The officer heard a crack and a shooting pain in his leg. The defendant continued to shout and swear and told another officer he would snap his leg as well."
Luke repeated that he was claustrophobic and resisted arrest before limb restraints were used and he was finally put into the van. At the station, Luke said he had tripped over and did not intend to break the officer's leg.
The officer was taken to hospital where it was found he had a fracture to his tibia and fibula in his leg, which resulted in metal rods being fitted during a three hour operation on Christmas Day. In a statement, the officer said he was "disgusted" at Luke's behaviour.
Luke had 27 previous convictions for 54 offences, including previous for assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, battery, and possession of an offensive weapon. Following the Christmas Eve incident, he was made subject to a 428 day electronic curfew, but but had committed further offences whilst on tag, the court heard.
Mark Harrison, defending, said Luke had issues with alcohol and that he had "never been locked up sober before". He said: "The defendant accepts responsibility for causing the injury and acknowledges he was drunk."
He said Luke needs to "get a grip on his alcohol use" and that he has not drank alcohol for a number of months.
Sentencing Luke, Recorder Paul Reid said the offences were "appalling" and that his actions caused the police officer "considerable problems". He handed him a 14 month prison sentence, suspended for two years and ordered him to undertake 20 rehabilitation days.
He was also made subject of alcohol abstinence monitoring for 90 days and must pay £500 compensation to the officer.
Detective Sergeant Miah, who was in charge of the case said: “PC Gillespie has suffered life-changing injuries when he responded to an everyday incident where he was just trying to do his job. Emergency service responders join their organisations because they want to help keep people safe and protect their communities – they should not be exposed to this type of abuse in return.
“The message is clear – we don’t come to work to be assaulted, and Northumbria Police will do everything in its power to bring those offenders to justice. I would also like to commend the bravery of both officers involved who both swiftly returned to work, continuing their commitment to serve our communities.”
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