Kendal Man Fined After Assaulting Police Officer During Night Out
A Kendal man has been fined after assaulting a police officer during a night out in the town centre.
Warren Lee Chorley, 40, of Grasmere Crescent, Kendal, appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court after an incident outside The Birdcage on Finkle Street.
The court heard police had been called to a disturbance at the bar on April 5.
Chorley pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to one charge of assault by beating of an emergency worker.
Magistrates fined him £653 and ordered him to pay £100 compensation to the officer. He must also pay £85 court costs and a £261 victim surcharge.
Police Called to Disturbance in Kendal
Prosecutor Peter Bardsley told the court that PC Pitt and other officers were called to a disturbance at The Birdcage in Kendal town centre.
The incident had involved some of Chorley’s friends during a night out.
The court heard Chorley was not involved in the original altercation.
However, when matters moved outside and police arrested one of his friends, Chorley became involved.
Mr Bardsley said Chorley grabbed PC Pitt by the torso and hit him to the lower left side of his face.
Chorley was then PAVA sprayed and arrested.
Officer Left With Pain to Face
The court heard PC Pitt was left feeling nauseous after the assault.
He also had pain to his cheek and nose.
The officer did not need immediate medical treatment.
Assaulting an emergency worker is treated seriously by the courts because police, paramedics, firefighters and other frontline workers must be able to carry out their duties safely.
Defence Says It Was a “Huge Error of Judgement”
Defence solicitor Elizabeth Fawcett said Chorley had gone out that night with his partner and a group of friends.
She said an altercation broke out involving some of his friends while they were in the last bar of the night.
Ms Fawcett told the court Chorley was not part of the original trouble and had tried to prevent the situation from getting worse.
She said matters then spilled onto the street.
When police handcuffed one of Chorley’s friends, he made what she described as a “huge error of judgement”.
Ms Fawcett said Chorley attempted to push the officer and that the push went into the officer’s face.
She described it as an open palm push and accepted that Chorley should not have become involved.
Court Told Chorley Has Been Working Full-Time
The court heard Chorley had been out of trouble for a period of time, with his last sentence dating back to 2022.
Ms Fawcett said he had been working full-time for the past 18 months as a cable layer on wind farms in Scotland.
She described him as a good employee and said he was trying to turn his life around.
The court was told Chorley was concerned about the possible impact the sentence could have on his job.
Sentence Given at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court
Chorley admitted assault by beating of an emergency worker at the first opportunity.
Magistrates fined him £653.
He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to PC Pitt.
Court costs of £85 and a £261 victim surcharge were also imposed.
A Night Out That Ended in Court
The case shows how quickly a night out can turn into a criminal matter when someone gets involved in an incident with police.
Chorley’s solicitor told the court he had made a “big mistake” and should not have intervened when officers were dealing with his friend.
The court heard the officer was left with pain and nausea after the assault, though he did not need immediate medical treatment.
Chorley has now been sentenced and ordered to pay a fine, compensation, costs and a victim surcharge.
