A SILLOTH man who assaulted a police officer said his behaviour had been a "stupid" attempt to protect his brother.

Anthony Eland, 36, pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared before magistrates at Carlisle’s Rickergate court.

Prosecutor Pam Ward said it happened in the early hours of May 2 after police were called to Silloth Golf Course and were trying to detain a man, the brother of the defendant who was before the court.

Eland [the defendant] appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and was shouting at the officers, telling them to go away. “The officers asked him to stay away,” said Mrs Ward. But Eland tried to get to his brother.

Mrs Ward continued: “He continued to be obstructive and verbally abusive.”

One of the officers then saw the defendant “lunge” towards the officer detaining his brother, grabbing that officer around the neck as he attempted to pull him away from his brother. This action left the officer involved with distinct finger marks on the back of his neck.

When the second officer ordered Eland, of Pennine Close, Silloth, to release his colleague, he did so and the incident came to an end.

The defendant, who was not legally represented, told magistrates: “My brother has been through a lot last year and had a breakdown. The police were informed. I wanted to protect him after what he’s been through.

“But I was trying to protect my brother in a stupid manner. Since that offence I have stopped drinking.” The defendant added that he was hoping to get a new job this week as a DJ.

After hearing those comments from the defendant, magistrates imposed a community order. This includes 60 hours of unpaid work. The defendant must also pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

He must also pay the officer he assaulted £100 compensation. The number of unpaid hours was increased to the level that it would otherwise have been because the victim was an emergency worker.

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