Takeaway pizza lures South Shields man to break court order - then he attempts police officer headbutt
The lure of a takeaway pizza saw a South Shields man break a court order - and then attempt to headbutt the arresting officer.
A man breached a court order to stay out of a South Tyneside street and away from his mum due to his liking for pizza, a court heard.
Daniel Elliott, 33, entered Foss Way, West Harton, in South Shields, to go to a favourite takeaway to grab a bite to eat on Thursday July 10.
But in doing so, Elliott, of Hill Park Road, Jarrow, breached a non-molestation order to stay out of the very same street.
It was put in place by borough magistrates on Thursday, June 12, in a bid to keep him away from his mother.
And Elliott made matters worse for himself when he lunged at a police officer when she arrived at the scene to see if he was there.
Elliott, who has learning difficulties and is supported in his daily life by health professionals, did not connect with the officer.
But his attempt to do so was enough to instil fear and lead to a common assault charge being brought, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told.
Prosecutor Paul Anderson said: “It’s a relatively straight-forward matter. The non-molestation order was put in place on June 12 for a year.
“It prohibits contact with the complainant by attending her address. On July 10, she contacted police to inform that he’s been at her address.
“When officers arrived, he returned to the address. The assault is that he attempts to headbutt the officer, but he doesn’t connect.
“When interviewed, he said that he didn’t touch the PC, which is factually correct but still makes for an assault in law.
“He’s someone with a very limited record. His last was in 2021 and before that it was 2015.”
Elliott pleaded guilty to charges of breach of a non-molestation order and assault of a police officer in the execution of her duty.
Midway through the hearing, he told District Judge Zoe Passfield from the dock: “I won't do it again, I promise.”
David Forrester, defending, said: “He says that he was given a piece of paper with 11 conditions on for the non-molestation order.
“It’s to keep him away from his mother. He says that he had been to a pizza shop in Foss Way. He’s been in Foss Way, that’s the offence.
“Where his mother gives a statement to say that he’s been at her address. He says he didn’t and that he had been to the pizza shop, because that’s what he does.
“He’s lunged at the officer, that’s showing on the body worn. This is all underpinned by substantial learning difficulties.”
District Judge Zoe Passfield ordered Elliott to pay the police officer £50 compensation and fined him £180.
She told him: “You’ve admitted what you did so I’m going to impose a fine, but remember what you said to me earlier, that you promise you won’t breach this order again.
“You’ve to stick to that, Mr Elliott. The most important thing is that we don’t see you back in court again.”
There were no court costs or victim surcharge.