A ROAD accident victim who suffered a “catastrophic” head injury turned violent after he arrived home and discovered his family had reported him missing.

As he confronted the police officers who were at his Penrith home to begin efforts to locate him, 48-year-old John Bidgood first threatened the police officers involved with two large kitchen knives.

He then he bit one of them on the arm.

But at the city’s crown court, a judge accepted that his behaviour was directly linked to the head injury that had devastated his life. Bidgood, of Holyoake Terrace, Penrith, admitted two offences: an affray and police assault.

At Carlisle Crown Court, prosecutor Gerard Rogerson outlined the incident on May 5 last year which led to the defendant being charged.

Police were called to the defendant’s home by his concerned family, who agreed to provide information because they believed he had gone missing.  “There was concern expressed because he was said to be in a bad place mentally,” said Mr Rogerson.

This was linked to the head injury he had sustained 14 years earlier in a road traffic accident.  His wife said he had left home in a clearly upset state of mind and had made references to bridges or being found under a truck.

“Police attended and carefully recorded a significant amount of information,” said the prosecutor. “But while they were doing that, the officers noticed Mr Bidgood returning to the address, and he was seen walking along the front path.”

Once inside the house, Bidgood was at first puzzled and then aggressive, saying he had not been missing for 24 hours and that it was none of the police’s business.

Despite attempts to calm him, he became aggressive towards the officers, telling them to get out of his house. He then announced being “up for games” and went to kitchen and rummaged in a drawer.

Mr Rogerson said: “He then turned towards the officers and in his hands were two large kitchen knives, which he was pointing outwards towards the officers.”

The officers responded by reaching for the tasers, training a red dot light on the defendant, who repeatedly asked them to fire at him. After issuing a warning, an officer did fire once but the charge contacted Bidgood’s leather belt.

After this, Bidgood announced: “Now it’s my turn” as he began walking towards the officers, still holding the knives.

He was eventually overpowered. After this, his behaviour ranged from calm to aggressive and as he was being escorted to a police van he sank his teeth into an officer’s arm, though this was over the victim’s clothing.

The bite did not break the skin but left a noticeable red mark.

Andrew Gurney, defending, told the court: “There are quite substantial mental health deficits and it’s correct that Mr Bidgood was suffering a mental health episode on this day.” This was made worse by the pandemic.

Bidgood had been given new medication but was unable to get a face-to-face medical appointment. Mr Gurney added: “He is truly remorseful for his actions. In relation to alcohol, he had had one beer.”

This had reacted with the medication the defendant took, making him appear intoxicated. The road accident in 2007 had affected every aspect of Bidgood’s life, leaving him unable to work and affecting his relationships.

Recorder Kate Bex QC said the incident before the court must have been “extremely frightening” but she noted the catastrophic” head injury from 2014 and said this was the cause of his bad behaviour.

“But the effects of the head injury were aggravated by your decision to abuse alcohol and drugs; you really need to stop using alcohol  and drugs,” said the judge.

She imposed a 12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation activity days for the affray and a £150 fine for the police assault. Bidgood, whose family were in court to support him, must also pay £150 towards the costs of the case.

Compensation was not appropriate given the link between the defendant’s head injury and his offending, added the judge.