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21
Sept
Ripon ex-soldier ‘pretended to be asleep’ when police tried to arrest him
A Ripon man has pleaded guilty of assaulting a police officer, who was trying to arrest him at the time.
Kenneth Agnew, of Sandringham Road in Ripon, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (September 17), where he spoke to confirm his name, age and address.
Agnew, 45, admitted one count of assaulting by beating of an emergency worker on August 29 this year.
The court heard that the 45-year-old arrived intoxicated at his ex-partner’s address. He refused to leave, and she rang the police in distress.
The prosecution stated that when they attended the scene, the police found Agnew “in the bedroom pretending to be asleep”.
The 45-year-old resisted arrest, "‘throwing his arms around’" which hit an officer in the back of the head. After being PAVA sprayed he was able to be handcuffed.
The court heard that Agnew had spent 19 years in the army, being medically discharged at the rank of sergeant in 2018 after being diagnosed with PTSD and prescribed medication.
He went on multiple tours, including to Afghanistan, Iraq, Northern Ireland and Kosovo.
The defence said that the home the police were called to belonged solely to Agnew, who had allowed his ex to stay there after their breakup until she found somewhere else to live. He stayed at his son’s home.
On the night of the offence, Agnew had reportedly been talking to the Crisis Team, was feeling low and didn’t want to be alone.
He had been out drinking in Ripon and decided to go to his house. He fell asleep and was later woken up by police who didn’t believe it was his house, and he became aggravated.
Magistrates fined Agnew £715.
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