A Corsham man tried to close a door on a police officer while he struggled to arrest his stepson – known criminal Jamie Lee Sharman-Palmer.
At Swindon Magistrates’ Court today (7 March), 49-year-old Jason Mark Plank pleaded guilty to obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty.
Prosecutor Keith Ballinger said the defendant, of Old School Yard, initially denied the charge and the matter was listed for trial – however, he later decided to admit his crime.
Police had responded to reports of a domestic disturbance at an address in Dicketts Road. On arrival, they found Sharman-Palmer, 33, had forced himself through the front door of his girlfriend’s home.
PC Croft attempted to arrest him, but Plank – who is in a relationship with Sharman-Palmer’s mother – tried to free him from the officer’s clutches by slamming the front door.
The officer continued to hold on to Sharman-Palmer and when backup arrived at the scene on 29 July last year, Plank was also arrested and charged with obstructing PC Croft.
The struggle is said to have lasted around five minutes.
In a custody interview, Plank claimed he was trying to help, rather than obstruct.
Tony Nowogrodzki, defending, said his client “should have just kept out of everything that was going on”, but said he “he felt morally obliged to help” his partner’s son.
As a result of the incident, Plank had the “fairly painful experience” of being sprayed with PAVA as officers fought to gain compliance.
“He came to the realisation that he hindered more than he helped”, Mr Nowogrodzki added.
Plank is not working due to a “bad back” and suffers from depression and anxiety. He is claiming benefits.
Magistrates fined him £90 and told him to pay £125 costs and a £34 surcharge.
Sharman-Palmer, who was recalled to prison following these events, is due to be sentenced for his involvement in this incident tomorrow (8 March).
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