Musician attacked PC at rave
BY RECORD REPORTER
A MUSICIAN assaulted a police officer while at an illegal lockdown rave attended by 150 people.
Michael Akinpelu squared up to PC Grant McPherson at Glasgow’s Velvet Lounge in August.
The 31-year-old pushed the officer before twisting back his thumb when police attended the nightclub in the city’s Laurieston.
Akinpelu was later arrested followingg a struggle but was snared with a knife in his shoe at a police station.
He pled guilty yesterday at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assault, obstructing police and possession of the knife.
The court heard officersficers attended the club at 3am amid claims someonee had been injured.
Officers were initiallylly unable to gain entry as the shutters had beenn rolled down.
Prosecutor Lauren McRobert told the courturt officers eventually made their way in at 3.30am to find 150 revellers inside.
The crowd became hostile and attemptedd to flee the bar before Akinpelu approached the officers.
Miss McRobert said: “The accused pushed PC McPherson with both hands away fromm the door, which allowed a numberber of people to exit.
“PC McPherson held out his hands to hold the accused back and told him to get back.
“The accused grabbed the officer’s left arm and twisted it and grabbed his right thumb and twisted it right back.”
Akinpelu was held back by members of the public and officers later attempted to arrest him.
The attacker tensed his arms and refused to let the officers handcuff him.
AkinpAkinpelu was later taken to a police office where officerofficers discovered a kickbkickback knife in his shoeshoe. David McBride, defendindefending, told the court AkAkinpelu claimed tto have taken the blade from an unknown person at the bar. He addeadded: “Mr Akinpelu is a musician and the grogroup were in Glasgow that weekendmweekendmaking a music video. “He was due to return to London by bus in the early hours of the morning but, with the video complete, they were asked to attend the nightclub. “He accepts there is no excuse for this behaviour and conduct towards police.” Sheriff Ian Fleming set a proof in mitigation for a later date to determine the reason behind how the knife came to be in Akinpelu’s possession. He was remanded in custody.