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Real estate agent Nathan Ford convicted of assaulting police officer in Sydney CBD

A real estate agent and competitive golfer climbed on top of a police car and shoulder charged an officer before being busted with cocaine on a night out in Sydney CBD, a court heard.

Nathan Ford leaves Downing Centre Local Court.
Nathan Ford leaves Downing Centre Local Court.

A real estate agent and competitive golfer climbed onto a police car while on his hands and knees before he shoulder charged an officer who busted him with cocaine, a court has heard.

Pittwater man Nathan Ford, 32, faced Downing Centre Local Court after pleading guilty to assault police officer without occasioning actual bodily harm, hinder or resist police, behave in an offensive manner and posses prohibited drug.

The court heard on the evening of May 3, Ford was on a night out with friends in the CBD when an altercation kicked off with another group of males.

Nearby police officer pulled up, leaving their vehicle on the tram tracks.

Brown began “charging” across the road toward the police vehicle, before he climbed on it and while “on all fours, jumped up and down, causing it to move”, the court heard.

Nathan Ford was convicted and sentenced.
Nathan Ford was convicted and sentenced.

When approached by police, a “heavily intoxicated” Ford became belligerent and proceeded to shoulder charge an officer.

The court heard Ford was then found with cocaine in his possession.

In court on Wednesday, Ford’s solicitor said her client didn’t drink often so was unaware of “how significant its effects on him would be”, and was “deeply embarrassed”.

Ford climbed on top of the police car.
Ford climbed on top of the police car.

The court also heard at the time of his offending Ford was under financial stress due to the “volatile nature” of his sales role, and having to pay two mortgages.

In the time since his arrest, Ford has also undertaken anger management classes.

Magistrate Fiona McCarron remarked Ford’s behaviour was “not trivial”, and it was in stark contrast to the person portrayed in character references and his apology letter tendered to the court.

“[It’s] quite difficult to understand or reconcile the person described in these references with the behaviour of the night,” she said

Magistrate also noted Ford had a criminal record from an offence in 2016.

Ford was convicted, sentenced to a 12 month community correction order and fined $500.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/manly-daily/real-estate-agent-nathan-ford-convicted-of-assaulting-police-officer-in-sydney-cbd/news-story/ecd68ed043d098f1aa982528b8d6f315