A Wiltshire man has admitted squeezing a police officer’s throat at a pub in Somerset.
Michael Pang, 33, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and possession of cannabis at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (26 January).
Prosecutor Pauline Lambert said the defendant, of Frome Road, Southwick, near Trowbridge, was located by officers from Wiltshire Police at The Thatched Cottage Inn in Shepton Mallet on 27 December 2021.
The two officers attending the location attempted to arrest Pang for unrelated matters, but he resisted them – resulting in the trio falling over on slippery decking outside the pub.
Whilst on the floor, he grabbed Trowbridge-based PC Mike Obern by the throat and squeezed. Both officers pressed their emergency buttons during the concerning attack.
In custody at Keynsham Police Station, he was found to be in possession of 0.5 grams of cannabis.
The court heard this offending put Pang in breach of a community order – received for two assaults, criminal damage, driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance in October last year.
The defendant admitted the breach, prompting probation officer Clare Hyde to ask magistrates to revoke and re-sentence him for his previous offences as well as the new crimes.
Richard Williams, defending, said his client is ashamed of how he behaved and apologies to the officers involved.
He said Pang went outside voluntarily when officers put allegations to him but before he could understand the matters, one of the officers took his hand and “robustly apprehended” him.
In response, the defendant resisted and struggled with the officers in the rain on wet decking. He claims Pang caught the officer’s throat with his hand when they all fell to the ground.
Magistrates sentenced him to an 18-month community order with the requirement to complete 30 rehabilitation days. He must also complete a six-month alcohol treatment requirement.
