A DRUNKEN Lake District hotel guest who assaulted two police officers called to deal with his bad behaviour has been spared an immediate jail term.
Concerns were raised about the aggressive and erratic conduct of Mark Howard Lowe, 51, after he knocked back two bottles of champagne and whisky on the night of December 12, and argued with his partner while staying at Thirlmere’s Lodge in the Vale.
Police who initially tried but failed to calm Lowe down decided the only way to prevent a breach of the peace was to arrest him. Carlisle Crown Court was told he called officers “scum”, swore at them and was repeatedly blasted with incapacitant spray before being taken to the ground.
Lowe then repeatedly kicked one female officer in the legs and stomach – causing bruising and soreness – and pinned another between himself and a patrol vehicle, causing her pain to her lower back. He also resisted a third PC who found him difficult to control after applying handcuffs.
Lowe admitted two emergency worker assaults, resisting a constable and failing to surrender to bail at an earlier hearing. The court heard he had four previous police officer assault convictions.
Richard Archer, defending, said Lowe, of Gurnards Avenue, Milton Keynes, had acted “ridiculously, foolishly and inexcusably” by drinking from a bottle of whisky he had bought for his father, which had caused him to behave in a “frankly bizarre” way.
After reading a detailed doctor’s report which outlined that Lowe had been under significant stress and had mental health issues, and that a probation officer concluded he could be rehabilitated, Recorder Tom Gilbart suspended a five-month jail term for 18 months.
Lowe must attend a thinking skills course and complete a rehabilitation requirement and 150 hours’ unpaid work. “Police officers have a difficult job to do,” Recorder Gilbart told him. “The current crisis has brought home the importance of emergency workers if it was not already clear. They deserve to do their job without being assaulted.”
