Drunken thug left police officer with broken leg after Christmas Eve arrest

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A drunken man caused a fracture to a police officer's leg when he refused to get into a police van on Christmas Eve. Paul Luke, 38, became aggressive after two officers came to arrest him following a domestic violence incident at his home during the Christmas holidays, reports Chronicle Live.He said he had claustrophobia, refused to get into the police van and amidst a struggle he wrapped his legs around one officer, PC Gillespie, and caused him to fall over.Mr Luke then landed on the officer, leading to a fracture in two places of the policeman's leg.

This led to him undergoing a three hour operation on Christmas Day, with metal rods being fitted into his leg.After appearing for sentencing at Newcastle's Moor Hall, Mr Luke, of Waterville Road, North Shields, pled guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and a section 20 offence.The court heard how at around 8pm on December 24, 2020, cops were called to Mr Luke's partner's home in North Shields following a suspected domestic assault.Upon arrival the officers were told Mr Luke was at another address causing "further issues", and there the officers found him in a "drunken and highly agitated" state.Claire Anderson, prosecuting, said Luke was "shouting and swearing" while acting "irrationally and unpredictably", however, he then calmed down and was compliant with the police.

She said: "He was handcuffed and had a cigarette when he said he was not going to get in the police van and that they would have to drag him in it."When the vehicle arrived, he was acting aggressively and refused to get in and was dragging his feet.

He said he would kick off and said he was claustrophobic. He became more obstructive and sat on the kerb."Ms Anderson continued: "He kicked out at the