A man who "wanted to go back to prison" has been handed a community order instead after he assaulted a police officer.
Leeds Crown Court heard on Tuesday that officers were called to the McDonald's in Briggate at around 9am on February 10 this year to reports of an assault. Prosecutor Danielle Gilmour said Wayne Dixon, 54, was arrested and taken to a nearby police vehicle on Boar Lane.
She said: "He became aggressive and was behaving in a child-like manner. An officer describes having to lift his legs around him and him [Dixon] struggling. During the process another PC leaned into the back of the car and he [Dixon] attempted to headbutt him. Due to the awkward angle he missed, but continued to struggle.
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"His fists were clenched and they [the officer] had to prise his palms against him to stop him punching him. Body cameras captured it and shows him struggling in the back of the car and having to be restrained. He appeared to want to go back to prison and officers advised him that the offences for which he was being arrested for was enough without him causing them further injury."
The court heard Dixon then appeared to calm down but a police van arrived on scene to take him to custody.
Ms Gimour said he went on to plead guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and had already spent the maximum sentence for that offence in custody. His barrister told the court that upon his last release from custody, Dixon, of no fixed abode, "did not receive the support he needed and is very keen not to repeat that." He added: "He is very honest about the problems he faces and has spent his time in custody well."
His Honour Judge Stubbs KC handed him a one year community order, during which he has to complete 30 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.
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