Drunken man must pay for headbutting police officer

A Stella Artois-drinking dog owner has been ordered to pay a policeman compensation after headbutting him while being arrested for being drunk.

Michael Robinson, 36, of Townsend Road, Thorney Close, Sunderland, carried out the glancing blow attack the day after getting sozzled celebrating VE Day on Friday, May 9.

By lunchtime on the Saturday, he had topped up his previous day’s alcohol levels by consuming cans of the strong Belgian beer, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard.

Soon after, he was spotted by a concerned passerby, seemingly collapsed on a stretch of grass at Durham Road, Sunderland, and police were called.

Prosecutor Paul Anderson said they arrived to find Robinson stumbling away with his pooch in tow.

He added: “It all comes about because the defendant had had too much to drink. He was seen by a member of the public appearing unconscious.

“He then gets to his feet and stumbles off with his dog. He swears when police come, and he’s arrested for being drunk and disorderly.”

Mr Anderson added: “He’s taken away. There’s a headbutt to an officer, but there’s not much of an injury, it’s more a glancing blow.

“It’s a minor injury, not a deliberate attack but rather a reckless assault due to intoxication.

“In the current climate, it’s an assault on a police officer going about his duty.”

Robinson pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and to being drunk and disorderly.

He was fined £238 for the assault and must pay the officer £100 compensation.