A DRUNK man who had been locked out of his house charged towards a police officer and then grabbed hold of him, shouting ‘taser doesn’t work on me’.

Brian Bennett, 46, had come home drunk and had an argument with his wife. She called police at midnight on February 4 and said her husband was banging on the door.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said Bennett was “intoxicated” and “abusive” to officers when they arrived at the property in Whitehaven.

He was shouting that he wanted in his house and was banging loudly on the back door. The children were inside the property “petrified”, Workington Magistrates’ Court heard.

One of the officers inside the property, could see the defendant was at the back of the door. He used clear, loud instructions, telling Bennett to back away from the door.

Bennett charged towards the police officer when the door was pushed open. The officer deployed his taser but it was ineffective.

The defendant came towards the officer and grabbed hold of him and grabbed the taser.

Bennett said words to the effect of, ‘taser doesn’t work on me’. He grabbed hold of the police officer and pushed him against the kitchen cabinet.

The police officer successfully tasered the defendant but he still tried to grab the taser.

A further officer with a taser attended the kitchen and successfully incapacitated Bennett and handcuffed him.

Ms Fee said the first police officer had attempted to use pava spray but it was ineffective. Another officer was forced to try and fight off the defendant to stop him assaulting his colleague.

She said emergency buttons had to be pressed due to the level of violence. Bennett had also caused damage to an earpiece and lanyard belonging to police.

The defendant was taken to Workington Police Station. During interview, he fully admitted the offences and said he had been struggling with family bereavements.

Mike Woolaghan, defending, said: “He comes across as somebody who doesn’t condone that behaviour and has expressed genuine regret and remorse for his actions.

“He apologises through the court to the officers. His behaviour was out of character. It’s not normal behaviour for this defendant.

“This event occurs when a further funeral of a close family member is taking place.”

Bennett, of Fell View Avenue, Whitehaven, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault by beating of an emergency worker and two charges of criminal damage under £5,000.

The defendant was given a 12-month community order with 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and an 80-day alcohol abstinence monitoring programme.

He must pay £50 in compensation to each of the police officers and £60 in compensation to Cumbria Police for damage to the equipment.

Bennett must also pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

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