Drunk thug jailed for savage attack on police officer
TERRIFIED VICTIM FELT HIMSELF LOSING CONSCIOUSNESS AFTER HE WAS PUNCHED AND PLACED IN A CHOKE HOLD
A DRINK-FUELLED man inexplicably attacked a police officer who was sitting in his car at Nottingham Railway Station ready to begin his shift.
Nottingham Crown Court heard how Ryszard Hermanowski strangled and repeatedly punched the officer in the face during the unprovoked assault as he waited to be let into the secure parking area next to the main car park.
The defendant, of Mapperley, then dragged him to the ground and throttled him to the point he started to lose consciousness and “feared for his life” at his attacker’s hands.
Jailing 30-year-old Hermanowski for 16 months, Judge Mark Watson said: “This was disgraceful behaviour. Fuelled by the alcohol you had inside you, what you did was a sickening attack.
“You grabbed his clothing and punched him repeatedly to the head. I have viewed the CCTV and you are a well-built man. He was a police officer trying to arrest you and this made no difference to you as you continued to assault him.
“You dragged him to the rear of the car and got him in a choke hold and such was your grip on him he was terrified he was going to die and felt himself losing consciousness. This was 3.30pm in the afternoon, members of the public, including children, were in the area. He suffered lumps to his face and an injury to his neck caused by the cord of his hoodie.”
Lauren Butts, prosecuting, said the incident took place next to the multi-storey car park at the station. She said the officer had arrived to begin his shift at 3.30pm and a taxi was blocking his entry to the secure private car park where the British Transport Police park their vehicles.
The taxi driver was asked to move the vehicle and did so.
The prosecutor said the defendant and a second man, who has already been dealt with at the lower court, were standing by the taxi and Hermanowski suddenly told the officer to “**** off” while his friend urinated against a fence. Miss Butts said: “The victim told him he was a police officer and told him and his friend to leave the area but the defendant then put his head into the vehicle and grabbed at the officer’s hoodie and began punching him to his face and head. “The officer tried to tell him he was under arrest and was punched three more times and was put in a choke hold. He said he was in fear for his life. A member of the public then came and helped the officer, who apprehended the defendant.”
Hermanowski, of Hampstead Road, pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation, assault of an emergency worker and criminal damage of the officer’s hoodie, which was ripped in the struggle. Chris Brewin, mitigating, said his client has minor convictions from the defendant’s home country but nothing since he has been living in the UK.
He said: “It’s the demon drink again, I’m afraid. One reason he does not normally drink is that he works as a lorry driver and it would endanger his career. He works long hours earning £2,500 per month, sometimes more. He lives with his father who he is the carer for.”