He became enraged when officers removed his jogging bottoms while he was in a police cell, a court heard
Stephen Johnson has been jailed(Image: Hull Live)
A drunken troublemaker who was arrested for urinating in the street later angrily kicked a policeman after becoming enraged that officers had removed his jogging bottoms while he was in a police cell. Father-of-four Stephen Johnson felt “humiliated” by what was happening and he “clearly objected to his treatment” at the hands of the police.
He had a long history of violence “going back almost 30 years” and he had earlier been spared prison for another offence of assaulting police, Hull Crown Court heard. Johnson, 40, of Beverley, admitted assaulting a police officer as an emergency worker on June 3 last year.
He originally denied the offence and the matter was listed for trial but he changed his plea. He was in breach of an eight-month suspended prison sentence imposed by Beverley magistrates on January 31 last year for offences of assaulting a police officer and possessing scissors in public.
Stephen Welch, prosecuting, said that the previous offences happened on October 3, 2024 when Johnson discarded one half of a five-inch pair of scissors in Dee Street, Hull. He was pursued and wrestled by a police officer.
Johnson lashed out at the constable and cleared his throat as though he was going to spit at him. The magistrates gave him an eight-month suspended prison sentence.
The latest offence happened after Johnson was arrested for urinating in the street and was taken to Clough Road police station, Hull. While being strip-searched there, he acted in an aggressive way after his jogging bottoms were removed and he threatened an officer.
He kicked out at the constable, hitting him on the shin and causing pain for about 20 seconds. Johnson had convictions for some serious offences and he had spent long spells in prison, said Mr Welch.
Steven Garth, mitigating, said that Johnson kicked out with a bare foot in the heat of the moment while in custody. No injury was caused. “He was taken to the police station and he was heavily in drink,” said Mr Garth.
“Once in a police cell, the police officers felt it necessary that he remove some clothing. The officers had concerns that he might do himself some harm as his jogging bottoms were tied with a cord.
“His jogging bottoms were removed. The defendant felt somewhat humiliated by the situation. There was something of a struggle between himself and officers.
“He was unsteady on his feet. He clearly objected to his treatment. He kicked out very quickly and very briefly at the officer, causing him no injury. The offence really could not be more minor.
“This was foolish offending. He is a man with a long-standing drug and alcohol problem. It’s a long and unenviable list of previous convictions.
“The convictions are mainly for relatively minor offences but he is no stranger to custody. Unfortunately, drugs and alcohol sometimes lead to him getting into trouble.
“In recent months, he has been trying very, very hard to change his ways. He has been attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings twice a week. He is proud that he is now drug-free. He has cut alcohol down considerably.”
Judge John Thackray KC told Johnson: “On January 31 last year, despite you having an extremely bad record for violence going back almost 30 years, the magistrates gave you a golden opportunity with a suspended sentence of eight months. No doubt you were informed that if you committed any offences in the 18-month period, the sentence would be activated.”
Within a few months, Johnson had committed another offence of assaulting an emergency worker. “You committed an identical offence to one of the offences dealt with in January last year, quite deliberately kicking an officer on the shin,” said Judge Thackray.
“Your risk cannot be managed in the community. You keep committing offences and the public need to be protected.”
Unemployed Johnson, who had been on bail, was jailed for 10 months. The sentence included a consecutive eight months for breaching the suspended sentence.
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