An armed man was shot with a Taser after ‘tipping over bins’ in central Swindon.
Police were called to reports of a male causing a disturbance in Beckhampton Street and Southampton Street on 7 February.
A firearms unit attended the incident and found 48-year-old John Patrick, of Bowleymead, Eldene, standing in the middle of the road holding a plank of wood.
When approached, the defendant became hostile towards the officers, raising the plank and coming towards them.
One of the officers discharged his Taser in a bid to disarm Patrick. On being shot, he fell to the ground and hit his head – an injury which required hospital treatment.
Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, said the defendant confessed to drinking around five pints in a pub earlier that day following a doctor’s appointment, which left him with a lot on his mind.
The court heard that he received a community order in December last year for offences of threatening to commit criminal damage, criminal damage and a public order offence.
He accepted charges of possession of an offensive weapon and a Section 4A Public Order Act offence when he appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court.
Charlotte Frizzell, defending, said her client was “not coping” so he “drowned himself in drink”. She said that she believes once Patrick tackles his alcohol issues, he won’t be back before the court.
Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with an alcohol treatment requirement. He was also fined £100.
