Man, 28, tasered on his birthday (From York Press)
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Kurt O’Sullivan, 28, tasered on his birthday
8:50am Saturday 9th March 2013 in News By Megi Rychlikova, megi.rychlikova@thepress.co.uk
A MAN who punched a policeman to the ground after giving a two-fingered salute to passing traffic has received a suspended jail sentence.
The single blow to the face broke one of PC Daniel Foxton’s wisdom teeth, while PCSO David Hale’s finger was bent back in the struggle with Kurt O’Sullivan.
The officers were trying to arrest O’Sullivan who had been drinking and was being abusive, said Martin Townend, prosecuting.
The court heard officers tasered O’Sullivan four times and sprayed him with incapacitating gas.
They had stopped to question him about the two-fingered salute he made as they were driving along Beckfield Lane, Acomb, and which they believed was directed at them. He became abusive and started walking off.
Sally Howard, for O’Sullivan, said the gesture had been directed as a joke at O’Sullivan’s friend who was in the car behind the police.
O’Sullivan, 28, of Oldman Court, Foxwood, York, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm to PC Foxton and assaulting PCSO Hale.
York magistrates gave him a 16-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months on condition he does 12 months’ supervision with activities aimed at reducing binge drinking and 100 hours’ unpaid work.
He must also pay £200 compensation, a £80 victim surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.
Mrs Howard said O’Sullivan had had no reason to make a V-sign at the police because he been in “good spirits”. It was his birthday and he had had vodka and some cans of lager with friends.
The night before he had not slept because he had been up all night caring for his dog’s puppies after she had died, along with some of the litter.
He had tried to explain to the police that he had not intended the two-fingered salute at them, but accepted he had become aggressive.
O’Sullivan claimed the fracas began when one of the officers grabbed his arm as he was walking away and that he was in “agonising” pain after being tasered four times, the court heard.
The spray had left him unable to see what he was doing and he had lashed out. He was remorseful for his actions.
