YOB’S BOOZE BAN AFTER STREET FIGHT

Scaffolder assaulted police officer called to brawl

SCAFFOLDER Phillip Morris has been banned from drinking alcohol after assaulting a police officer.

The 28-year-old, right, must wear a ‘sobriety tag’ – which monitors his alcohol level through his sweat

– for the next two months, as well as being subject to a curfew which stops him going out at night.

It comes after he was convicted of taking part in an alcohol-fuelled fight in the street, and assaulting an officer who attempted to detain him.

Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard police were called to Cobridge at 11.25pm on October 23. Prosecutor Simon Dykes said: “Police received a report of individuals fighting in the street. The first officer to arrive saw the group. “He could see one of the males, who he now knows to be the defendant, on top of another male. He was punching him while others were trying to drag him off. “The officer pulled Mr Morris from the other male and shouted to him to leave it.

“He took hold of the officer by his stab vest and ended up in a Judo-type grapple. Mr Morris was eventually taken to the floor.” Morris, of Queensmead

Road, Meir, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke unlawful violence.

James Hulse, mitigating, said: “He is trying to abstain from alcohol, so an alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement will assist him greatly. A curfew would keep him in during the Christmas period, where he may be tempted to drink alcohol.”

Magistrates handed Morris a 12-month community order, with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

The abstinence monitoring requirement and curfew were set at 61 days.

He must also pay £50 compensation, £185 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.