Hayden Sutton banned from Argyle nightclub for 12 months assaulting two police officers
Intoxication played a big part into why a Cardiff man assaulted two police officers, during a violent night out in Newcastle last year, a court has heard
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A heavily intoxicated man who assaulted two police officers, during a violent night out in Newcastle last year, has been banned from going to The Argyle nightclub for a year.
Hayden Shane Sutton, 22, first punched a man outside the nightclub on Centenary Rd in the early hours of November 14, before he struck out at two police officers trying to calm him down.
Police tried to talk to Sutton at about 2am, before he suddenly lashed out and violently charged at them, forcing a struggle as they tried to arrest him.
During the struggle, a 30-year-old female senior constable was elbowed causing her to fall backwards onto concrete, injuring her back, shoulder, hip and wrist.
She had to be taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.
After spending five weeks in custody, Sutton was granted strict conditional bail before Christmas last year.
He pleaded not guilty on the previous occasion, and the matter was set down for hearing, but in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, Sutton pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting police and being an excluded person remaining in the vicinity of a licensed premises while charges of assault police and assault occasioning actual bodily harm were dropped..
He was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, three counts of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and being an excluded person remaining in the vicinity of a licensed premises stemming from an incident in the early hours of November 14.
“The particular offence can be more accurately explained by his intoxication from alcohol on the night,” Sutton’s solicitor said.
‘This is a case where Mr Sutton’s conduct is recklessness rather than deliberate acts against officers.”
Supported in court by family and friends, his solicitor said his client did express remorse and was regretful for his actions.
“Mr Sutton is likely to learn a very powerful lesson from these court proceeding,” he said.
But while the prosecution noted Sutton’s apology, they said the assault had lasting effects on one of the officers who is still on light duties.
“He does have matters of drug related on his record and if all these aren’t addressed they can place community at further risk,” she said.
Magistrate Stephen Olischlager said assaults on police officers are a very serious issue.
“These people are just doing their job, to protect the community,” he said.
“She (police officer) has sustained an injury as result of that fall and is still on light duties.
“But I do accept violence was reckless and not intentional and that does reduce objective seriousness. You did spent five weeks in custody.”
Sutton was sentenced to a 12 month community corrections order (CCO), ordered to pay a $900 fine and must not enter the Argyle House for that period.