Man jailed for police assault (From Witney Gazette)

Man jailed for police assault

4:33pm Friday 1st February 2008 in Witney

A MAN who punched a police community support officer in Witney has been jailed for two weeks.

Ian Brodie, 23, of Westfield Road, Witney, was sentenced at Banbury Magistrates' Court for common assault.

He assaulted PCSO Emma Andrews in High Street, Witney, at about 5pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2007.

She was standing talking to members of the public when Brodie walked past with a friend and, as he did so, punched her in the back. She suffered minor injuries and some discomfort.

PC Duncan Johnson, Witney neighbourhood specialist officer, said: "The district judge felt he had a duty to protect the police and PCSOs from unprovoked attacks and that it was proportionate to give Brodie a custodial sentence.

"PCSOs do an excellent job and the force will not tolerate this sort of attack against them when they are doing their best to serve the public. I'm glad to see the criminal justice system has supported us in this stance.

"I would also like to thank the people who PCSO Andrews was talking to at the time of the attack, who came forward as witnesses to make sure Brodie was convicted."