A WEST Cumbrian man prosecuted for trying to kick a police was who was arresting him was given fine and court costs totalling £1,256.

Taylor Ballard, 28, had denied an allegation of police assault and was due to face a trial at Workington Magistrates’ Court this week – but he failed to turn up.

He was convicted of the offence in his absence, Carlisle’s Rickergte court heard.

Prosecutor George Shelley described how the defendant, having been accused of an offence, and formally cautioned, was being escorted to a police vehicle from a house in Maryport.

He began to resist and tried to return to his house.

The officer decided to handcuff him but again Ballard pulled his hands away, refusing to listen to the officer who tried to reason with him. The officer decided to push Ballard into the security cage in the police van.

“As he did so, Mr Ballard intentionally kicked out towards the officer’s head, though thankfully he made no contact,” said Mr Shelley.

The officer tried to slam shut the vehicle cell door, but Ballard jammed his foot in the way to stop it closing properly.

The court heard that the defendant had nine previous offences on his record.  “It was a deliberate attempt to kick an officer,” said Mr Shelley.

Mitigation for Ballard, of Brayton Park, Aspatria, was presented by defence lawyer Sean Harkin. He said the defendant had some mental health problems, which had been compounded by homelessness.

Magistrates imposed a £400 fine, £650 prosecution costs – high because the case had gone to trial; a £166 victim surcharge, and a second £40 fine for failing to answer his bail and missing the trial, which Ballard admitted.

He was told he can repay that debt to the court at a rate of £20 per month, meaning that it will take more than five years.