Bitcoin genius kicked council worker
AMATHS genius who helped start the Bitcoin phenomenon attacked council workers who came to stop him having trees cut down, kicking one in the bottom.
Andrew Bellew, 48, also slapped the two enforcement officers in the face with a single sheet of paper saying, ‘I gave f ****** notice’, Stockport magistrates court heard.
He was ordered to pay compensation to the officers and given a curfew, having admitted two counts of assault.
The court heard Bellew, of Cale Green, Stockport, was part of the internet Bitcoin movement, which began as prizes for solving maths puzzles, but is now almost a fully-fledged form of online money.
He holds shares in major corporations related to the currency and helped create one of the ‘virtual mines’ where Bitcoins are created, the court heard.
Each coin is currently worth $2,000, it was said.
Gwyn Lewis, defending, said: “You have to take into account his problems. He is someone who gets quickly bored with situations. He finally found something where he could deploy his significant mathematical talents, a system called Bitcoin.
“Initially it was worthless but it has blossomed into almost a world currency. With that has come really significant rewards for Mr Bellew – he is very well off.”
But he added that Bellew’s gifts had come at a cost and he had a history of mental health problems, having been diagnosed as bipolar and sectioned six weeks before the court hearing.
The court heard Bellew did not like his personal space being invaded and believed he was legally entitled to have workers in to cut down trees that had damaged a wall.
The incident happened in September last year when two council officers visited Bellew’s Heath Road home.
A report had been received that he was hav- ing trees cut down without permission in a conservation area.
On their arrival Bellew, who lives with his two grown-up sons, became aggressive and pushed the pair off his property.
Lynn Rodgers, prosecuting, said: “They turned around to leave and at this point David Westhead felt a blow to his buttock. He [Bellew] continued to shout and swear.
“As a result of the assault when he got home he could clearly see a large bruise just below his coccyx.”
In mitigation, it was said that Bellew ‘wafted’ the paper at the officers and had attempted to send documents for the work to the council.
Bellew told the court: “I am sorry, I am trying to get myself better again, when I am well I don’t behave in that manner. I am deeply ashamed.”
He was told to pay one of the council officers £200 and the other £100. Bellew was also given a three-month curfew and ordered to pay £350 costs.
Chairman of the bench Albert Yates said: “He is a man who has shown he has violent tendencies. This was an assault on council officers simply doing their duty.”