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30
May
Drunk Knaresborough man attacked four police officers
A Knaresborough man who assaulted four police officers was sentenced at Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday (May 29).
Maciej Olejczuk, of Charlton Grove, pleaded guilty to four offences of assaulting an emergency worker and one offence of being drunk and disorderly in a public place on May 1.
The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared, but this was not read aloud at Thursday’s hearing.
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court police officers were called to an address in Knaresborough on the evening of April 13 this year.
Officers were responding to a report about the defendant, who was drunk.
When police arrived, the person who made the report said they did not want to press any charges but just wanted Olejczuk out of their house.
The court heard Olejczuk initially agreed to leave the home with police but, once outside, his behaviour changed.
Ms Ibbotson said he was being “verbally aggressive and swearing” towards a neighbour.
Officers told him to calm down and led him towards the police vehicle, but Olejczuk then turned his anger towards police.
A police officer, described in court as PC L, said Olejczuk was being aggressive towards the officers.
He said he was “genuinely frightened” of the defendant due to his size and build.
Olejczuk was eventually arrested for being drunk and disorderly.
Ms Ibbotson told the court:
The defendant then became violent towards officers.
Officers tried to grab the defendant by the shoulders, but he shrugged police officers off.
PC L, along with other officers, eventually managed to get the 42-year-old defendant to the floor.
The court heard when police tried to handcuff him, Olejczuk kicked out at officers.
Police officers put limb restraints on him and put Olejczuk in the back of the police vehicle, but he refused to comply and instead kicked several officers.
PC L was not injured as a result of the ordeal, the court heard, but Olejczuk kicked his radio off his vest and broke it.
Another officer, PC B, described Olejczuk as “aggressive” and very strong.
A number of officers were in the holding area at Harrogate Police Station when Olejczuk spat at PC B. The spit landed on the officer's trousers.
Ms Ibbotson said a third officer, PC E, described Olejczuk as "pinning him against a police vehicle".
Reading out PC E’s statement, Ms Ibbotson said:
He grabbed hold of me, charged me into the police car and pinned me against it.
Another officer tried to help but Olejczuk managed to grab the officer’s hand to stop them.
PC E said the incident caused him “significant pain”.
The final officer, PC A, said Olejczuk grabbed her finger and “trapped it in his palm”.
PC A also knelt at Olejczuk’s legs to try and stop him kicking out, but he kicked her multiple times in the legs and once in the chest.
The kick to the officer’s chest had a “paramount effect”, Ms Ibbotson said.
Defendant has ‘taken steps’ in the aftermath
Martin Townend, defending, told the court Olejczuk cannot remember what happened during the incident as he was so intoxicated.
The court heard Olejczuk was under a lot of stress at the time due to a situation in his personal life.
Mr Townend said the defendant “went and had a drink to relieve that stress”, but that is when a separate incident occurred, which led someone to call the police.
Olejczuk is very remorseful for his actions and wished to apologise to both the court and the police officers involved, he added.
The court heard:
Mr Olejczuk has been so shocked by his own behaviour that he had an implant put in his body to stop him drinking – he can’t drink with the implant in.
“He has taken steps after the incident”, Mr Townend adds.
Olejczuk was described as a “hard-working individual” but someone who suffers with anxiety and depression.
He has been given medication for his mental health, but Mr Townend said Olejczuk can lose his temper due to how anxious he gets.
Olejczuk was handed a 12-month community order, during which he must complete up to 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 200 hours of unpaid work.
He was also ordered to pay £75 in compensation to each officer - £300 in total - plus a £114 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.
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