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18
Jan
Man assaulted police officers at Wetherby Services during ‘hyperactive episode’
A man has admitted to assaulting two police officers at Wetherby Services.
Grant Forrest, 38, pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting a police constable on Thursday (January 15) during a hearing at Harrogate Magistrates Court.
Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, told the court a named police officer – PC G – was called to Wetherby Services shortly before 4pm on December 20 last year after a man had been “causing a nuisance” on a National Express bus.
The coach driver had reported Forrest to police and stopped at Wetherby Services to remove him from the bus.
PC G waited with Forrest until a second named police officer, PC B, arrived to assist.
The court heard Forrest was told he would be arrested, which “changed his behaviour”.
Forrest resisted the officers when they were trying to arrest him, dug his nails into PC G and pushed both officers away from him.
Ms Tyrer said Forrest, of Langlee Drive in Galashiels, Scottish Borders, was told to calm down but he continued to be aggressive.
“He swung his arms and struck [PC G] in the chest. The defendant also punched and kicked at both police officers”, she added.
At one point, Forrest grabbed PC G’s collar near his throat.
One of the officers warned Forrest their PAVA spray – a kind of pepper spray – would be deployed if he continued, but Forrest ignored them.
PC G used the PAVA spray, some of which hit PC B, but it allowed the officers to detain Forrest.
The defendant was taken to Harrogate Police Station, where PC G noticed he had a small cut to his right thumb.
PC B was not injured.
Forrest admitted he had “overreacted to the situation” when in custody and apologised for resisting arrest.
“He said he was shocked and upset by what he had done”, Ms Tyrer told the court.
'He was not sleeping and not taking his medication'
Forrest has a history of violent and public order offences, but Andrew Tinning, defending, said he “does not seem to reflect the record”.
He told the magistrates Forrest has had various good jobs and previously played semi-professional rugby.
Mr Tinning said after Forrest’s last conviction, he “knew something wasn’t right” and was subsequently diagnosed with ADHD.
The defendant sees a psychiatrist every few months and is prescribed medication for his ADHD.
However, Forrest told police he had not been taking his medication prior to the incident and had not slept the night before.
Mr Tinning said:
The defendant had gone to London for a job interview and had a flight booked back. However, he lost his bag containing his belongings including his medication.
He was not sleeping and not taking his medication, and he missed his flight. He had to book a bus back to Scotland.
[It seems] he had a hyperactive episode.
Forrest was expressing certain views he holds whilst on the National Express coach, which he believes were “misunderstood”.
“He certainly meant no harm to anybody and he believes it was a misunderstanding”, Mr Tinning added.
The defendant told police he was “not trying to be offensive”.
No further action was taken in relation to the incident that occurred on the bus prior to police arriving.
Mr Tinning added:
Mr Forrest thinks the police overreacted in how they dealt with him to a degree. Due to his rugby background, he was probably not an easy man to hold on to. It seems to have been a relatively short incident.
The defendant also refuted punching and kicking at the officers and instead believes he was simply “trying to get the police off him”.
Forrest was fined a total of £253, comprising a £120 fine, a £48 surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.
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