Aaron Thornton charged with assaulting officer after dog’s death

A man who assaulted police and hurled expletive-riddled insults at them said he had been drinking because his dog died. Cronulla man Aaron Thornton was already on bail after he previously assaulted police in a separate incident.

Aaron Thornton has been found guilty of assaulting police in a drunken rage after his dog died. Picture: Facebook

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A man who assaulted police and hurled expletive-riddled insults at them said he had been drinking because his dog died.

Aaron Thornton, 24, was on bail for charges of offensive behaviour and assaulting police less than a month before he exploded into rage at officers in Caringbah on February 17 this year.

Thornton repeatedly referred to officers as “f***ing c***s” and lashed out violently when he was ultimately arrested.

“The accused told police that he had been drinking beer as he had been upset by the death of his dog,” the police facts stated.

Thornton told police he had been upset by his dog’s death. Picture: Facebook

“The accused told police that he was aware of his bail conditions to not consume any alcohol.”

Thornton was fined $400 and sentenced to a two-year community corrections order.

At 2.35am that morning police had approached Thornton for a random search after they saw him pass an unknown item to another man outside the Caringbah Hotel.

“The accused was searched with nothing (found) on him,” the police facts stated.

“The accused (then) stepped onto the road … police requested the man move off the road for his safety.”

Thornton refused to move off the road and officers said he “appeared to disregard any approaching traffic” before they ushered him off the road.

Thornton was sentenced to a two-year community corrections order. Picture: Facebook

The Cronulla man was then arrested and continued to yell at the police “f*** you guys, I’ll f***ing smash you c***s” as he was handcuffed.

“You’re f***ed, I could easily smash you,” Thornton shouted at officers as he lay on the ground.

Thornton’s solicitor told the court he did not deny behaving offensively but argued the encounter with police should not have happened in the first place.