Thug in prison for attacking officer

Stuart Lawson fled through Darlington town centre after the assault, but was tracked by security cameras and caught.

Teesside Crown Court heard it took six officers to wrestle Lawson to the ground, handcuff him and stop him struggling.

The 24-year-old, who has a long history of convictions for violence, also tried to headbutt a constable before he was detained.

The court heard that the incident, on January 11, started with fighting in the town centre, which Lawson was not involved in.

Lawson and a friend could be seen on security camera on their bikes on the fringes of the disturbance, and the other man tried to join in.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said the unknown man took off his shirt and danced around bare-chested in a boxing style.

The pair were tracked by security camera operators, and PCs Catherine Iley and Paula Nichol approached them near Post House Wynd.

Lawson struggled with PC Iley and pushed her, and the second man fled on his bike when PC Nichol tried to help her colleague.

Mr Dryden said Lawson then caught PC Iley twice in the face as he lashed out and screamed at her.

Lawson fled, but PC Nichol found him hiding behind waste bins in an alley and drew her baton.

After another struggle, colleagues arrived and helped PC Nichol arrest Lawson, who was waving his fists, shouting: “Don’t you know who I am?”

Lawson, of Thomas Court, Darlington, admitted charges of affray and assaulting a police officer with intent to resist arrest.

His barrister, Tom Mitchell, said Lawson had not long been out of prison and feared he would be sent back when he lashed out.

Mr Mitchell said he had done nothing wrong during the disturbance and felt he was being unfairly picked out, and had over-reacted.

He said: “There was no intention to cause any injury of that kind.”

Judge George Moorhouse told Lawson: “You seem to have spent most of your life in and out of custody for offences of violence.”