Wedding guest fined after biting female police officer

A WEDDING guest bit a female police officer and used homophobic language towards another after a fight started outside in the street.

John McReynolds clashed with the police officers after they had been called to a report of fight outside the town hall in Market Street, Loughborough, in the early hours.

Prosecutor Sara Ashkboos told Leicester Magistrates’ Court how the 45-year-old was taken down onto the pavement.

She said: “He bit one officer on her left thigh. They had to use captor spray to help subdue him.”

Miss Ashkboos said that McReynolds was put in the back of a police vehicle and taken to a police station.

It was during his transportation that McReynolds taunted a female officer.

She said: “The words this defendant used were homophobic. This was a hate crime offence. An officer was abused during the execution of her duty.”

McReynolds, of Unicorn Street, Thurmaston, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer in Loughborough on June 17.

He also admitted using abusive and insulting words to cause distress in Loughborough on June 17.

David Rhodes, defending, said his client was a decent, single dad who had brought up three sons up after his wife died nine years ago.

He said: “It was embarrassing for him to know his sons were there to watch him behave like that when he tells them about staying out of trouble.

“He is usually the one breaking up fights. He would be the first to admit his behaviour fell way below what is acceptable.

“He does not harbour any homophobic views. If the officers were here he would apologise to them in person.”

Chairman of the bench Yusuf Patel fined McReynolds a total of £180 for both offences.

He ordered him to pay £100 compensation to the officer he bit.

Mr Patel said McReynolds had to pay the £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

He told McReynolds: “Stay out of trouble”.