‘Misunderstandings’ blamed for attack on police in front of children
A TWO day trial at Macclesfield magistrates’ court revealed how a family wedding ended in a brawl involving police.
During the trial prosecutor Marie Hayden accused Neil Whike of approaching the police officers ‘throwing punches’ as they were restraining Stephen Dingle, and of putting Sergeant Rob Simpson in a headlock and ‘punching him in the face repeatedly’.
But Whike claimed his approach was ‘a genuine effort to calm things down’ and that he was ‘incapable of violence’ after being ‘blinded’ by the police spray.
Russell Wild, defending Whike, rubbished the claims of Sgt Simpson, adding: “There was not a mark on him. Looking at the size of Neil Whike, if you had been hit several times in the face, you would know about it.
“The only blood was Neil Whike’s which was all over him and the officers.”
Whike was cleared of assault but admintted obstructing police.
During the trial Mrs Hayden accused Laura Breeze of assaulting the groom, Anthony Dingle, inside the hotel.
She said: “Your judgement was clouded by alcohol and you were angry because you felt your stepdad had done nothing wrong. You came in asking for the bride. Anthony blocked your way and you took exception to that and started throwing punches.”
But Breeze claimed she was looking for her daughter and it was Anthony who ‘lunged’ at her and ‘hit her on the cheek’. Breeze admitted obstructing police but was cleared of assault.
Sentencing, chair of the bench Dr Gwynneth Edwards, said: “Neil Whike, it was a bad idea to get involved. Stephen Dingle, you were very drunk. You assaulted police in front of children, and it was particularly regretful that it happened at your son’s wedding.”
Mr Wild, defending, said the case was about ‘misperceptions’.
He said: “It’s a very sad situation that this developed. There is a lot of regret about what happened. This has played on their minds for the last year.
“There is a lot going on in the background with the family and there are many fences to mend.”