A MAN has been fined for pushing away a police officer and grabbing his body armour as he went to arrest him.

Police were requested to attend an address in Egremont to deal with a domestic incident at 4am on July 21.

Workington Magistrates’ Court heard officers had gone to the address and informed James Neeson, 43, they needed to speak to him about an incident with his sister.

Prosecutor Pamela Fee said Neeson was informed of the circumstances of the arrest. As the officer went to arrest him, he pushed him away with some force, calling him a ‘daft c***’.

The officer deployed Pava spray and then grabbed his wrist again to attempt to put handcuffs on him.

Neeson resisted and a struggle ensued. The defendant grabbed the police officer’s body armour and officers had to get on top him.

The officer had to apply blows to Neeson’s torso because he still had hold of his body armour.

Neeson ‘calmed down momentarily’ but when instructed to place his hands behind his back, he refused. There was a ‘real struggle’ to put the defendant in handcuffs.

John Cooper, defending, said: “He tells me up until recently he had been living in Leeds. He fell out with his partner and moved up here just before Christmas to stay with his sister.

“They have both had break-ups. I think his sister was also in a heartbroken situation, asked him to join and it ended up with the police being called. There have been no charges from that.

“There are no blows thrown by this gentleman. The blows are thrown by the police officer.  

“He has moved to an address in Whitehaven. He is looking for work. He is hoping to make a completely fresh start.

“I don’t think he’s someone you are going to see back here.”

Neeson, of James Street, Whitehaven, pleaded guilty to assault by beating of an emergency worker resisting a police constable in execution of his duty.

He was fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £365 victim surcharge.