New Mills offender is given a curfew after assaulting a police officer

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard how Craig Taylor, 33, of Back Union Road, New Mills, was being pursued by police on foot after he had been seen screeching his car wheels.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop told the hearing on November 23: “Officers were driving in Denton when they saw a vehicle setting off at speed and screeching.

“The vehicle stopped of its own accord in a shopping centre where it had gone towards a McDonald’s car park and both police and the defendant got out.

“Taylor was told to stop but he said no and he was asked to come back to the police car.”

The police officer placed his hand on the defendant’s arm, according to Mrs Allsop, to stop him escaping but there was a struggle and the defendant lashed out and struck the officer on his nose.

Mrs Allsop told how the officer suffered a bleeding nose and even though the defendant ran from the scene he was arrested hours later by another officer.

Taylor told police he had done nothing wrong and had felt intimidated and there had been some pushing and pulling. He also claimed he had rushed off because he needed to get to his partner.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the assault after the incident in August, last year.

District Judge Andrew Davison sentenced Taylor to a 12 week curfew operating daily between 8pm to 6.30am with electronic tagging.