Bristol thug walks free after assaulting policewoman
A Bristol thug who scarred a female police officer for life during a drunken rage walked from court smiling after avoiding jail.
Ryan Thomas sank nine pints of Stella lager while celebrating a birthday before punching PC Gemma Maggs, 27, in the face outside a kebab shop in Park Street.
She fell to the ground and suffered a wound from her forehead down to her nose, which needed four stitches.
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Thomas, 30, was told to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and pay PC Maggs, who had to take a month off work, £500 compensation.
On the same day a vandal who daubed graffiti on trains and buildings was ordered to carry out the same amount of community work at the same court – and told to pay almost £1,400 in fines and costs.
PC Maggs and colleague PC Stephen Powell had gone to restrain Thomas because they believed he was going to attack his own wife, who had made an offensive gesture towards him during the incident on May 17. PC Powell was also punched in the face for his troubles.
At Bristol Magistrates' Court yesterday Thomas, of Holton Road, Horfield pleaded guilty to assault causing PC Maggs actual bodily harm and guilty to assaulting PC Powell.
The father-of-two also has a previous conviction for assaulting a woman, the court heard.
Magistrates ordered a fast-track probation report and decided to impose an 18-week jail term on Thomas. But the sentence was suspended for a year, which means that Thomas will not serve a day behind bars if he manages to stay out of trouble until this time next year.
By coincidence, yesterday was also PC Maggs' first day back on duty, starting a shift hours after Thomas walked out of court.
Her mother Patricia Gare, 51, of Brislington, is furious at the sentence. She said: "If the justice system is not set up to punish those who assault police then what hope is there? We will have anarchy.
"That he can walk free is disgraceful. My beautiful daughter has been scarred for life by a man who clearly has no morals.
"What sort of man would hit a woman, never mind a female police officer? What sort of example is he setting his two young children?
"This whole incident has been hugely distressing for Gemma and the rest of the family. The least we all could have hoped for is that the courts would make an example of him. Now he is free to walk around smiling while Gemma has to live with a reminder of what he did for the rest of her days."
In court Annaphie Rogers, prosecuting, said: "It was 3.30am on May 17 when police were flagged down by an Asian man who said he had been racially abused in the Diamond Kebab and Pizza on Park Street.
"PC Gemma Maggs and PC Stephen Powell walked with the man to the kebab shop, where the defendant was pointed out. There was a large crowd of people – most of whom were intoxicated. The officers approached the defendant, asked him to come outside so they could speak to him.
"Once outside he became aggressive and was shouting and swearing at other people. A female in the group, the defendant's wife, made a gesture towards him and it made police believe that he may assault her.
"The defendant then punched PC Powell in the face. PC Maggs moved to intervene and the defendant punched her in the face and fled on foot. PC Powell chased after him and apprehended him.
"PC Powell suffered swelling to the left side of his face. PC Maggs had a large cut running down from her forehead to her nose which required four stitches and will result in permanent scarring.
"He said in interview that he had drank nine pints of Stella over the evening. He admitted swinging a punch after feeling a hand on his shoulder but says he didn't know it was a police officer. He said he did not remember assaulting a female officer."
Gayna Ide, defending, said her client entered guilty pleas to both charges after viewing CCTV evidence.
"He says he did not realise that they were police officers but accepts that is no defence," she said.
"He had consumed a large amount of alcohol that night. However, each assault was one blow. His anger had been fuelled by allegations being made against him that were not true."
She said Thomas had been before the court for a similar matter in 2005.
Comments
by PolitDave
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 8:28PM
“The Judge should be sacked as the message this paltry sentence conveys is terrible.”
by taxpayerbris
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 8:10PM
“sack the judge...”
by LUCIFER
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 7:59PM
“Makes me laugh when muppets on here call the race card cuzs they couldnt get a hard enough convection for the police officer,there is more racial complaints against the police then what there is against the national front yearly."”
by happychappy
Monday, October 22 2012, 8:29PM
“so a footy thug 'pushes' over a footballer and gets 4 months prison
he punches a police officer in the face and gets ****** all
i love this country and its justice system *sarcasm*”
by LUCIFER
Monday, October 22 2012, 5:09PM
“@by ItIsntBristol trying to get noticed by commenting on my post making out my grammer is bad but u knew what i was on about or other wise you would not have been insulted u just another wannb trying to make big comments on the back of others time to go found a few more wall to write real comments on as my comments is the real peoples comments,”
by LUCIFER
Monday, October 22 2012, 4:47PM
“@by ItIsntBristol @stalker it is you who chooses to argue and be insulting about my grammer so leave me alone,you must have lost your rain mac so u r not stalking in the park today then or flashing or peering through peoples windows,you obviously are a park bench drinker who is reading my comments through beer gogles,so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE leave me alone as im going to write what i want reguardless of what you have u say,stay out of bumfords underwear draw pmsl @ you”
by CarltonClub
Monday, October 22 2012, 4:18PM
“While I certainly do not agree with this behaviour it must be accepted that if you are to join the police force there will be an element of risk. Please bear in mind the average traffic policeman is paid considerably more than a serving soldier in the line of fire.
I would consider this court case mere par for the course regarding the police officer, considering how many people the police have unlawfully killed, with no consequences, in the past 5 years.
The reality is the police have become a necessary evil - when you need them they are not there and when you contact them 9 times out of 10 they tell you they do not have the resources to attend.
The bottom line is: The less you have to do with them the better.”
by piledriver
Monday, October 22 2012, 3:37PM
“I wonder why we can comment on this but not about the girl that died in the car driven by someone without a licence, insurance..........oh and twice the legal limit?
I despair when I read the words " had drunk a large amount of alchohol" asif it is compulsory and free.
Tough-You did the crime now do the time woman basher.
Is it any wonder that people fnd the need to take the law into their own hands in dealing with scum like this.”
by ItIsntBristol
Monday, October 22 2012, 3:37PM
“I would argue with you more, but I cannot understand what you are saying most of the time.
I know blind and deaf cats with a better understanding of English that you.”
by ItIsntBristol
Monday, October 22 2012, 3:32PM
“I follow no-one. Especially someone that appears to be the result of generation after generation of incestuous behaviour.”