Officer used emergency button to call back up after 'chat' with Wisbech pair turned violent

A police officer had to use his emergency help button for the first time in his 19-year career when a chat with a group of drinkers on Hunstanton promenade turned violent.

It happened at 10.30am on a bank holiday weekend during lockdown. Sgt Mark Mitchell, who suffered a fractured finger and bruising, had asked the five males and four females about their movements.

King's Lynn Magistrates’ Court heard that the group was sitting on bench drinking Budweiser and the officer told them that they were breaching coronavirus regulations.

Jack Ovendale and Abbie Bannister, both 19 and of the same address in Storbeck Road, Wisbech, were in court on Thursday for their part in the fracas.

“The two defendants appeared to be more intoxicated than the others and had glazed eyes. Mr Ovendale first of all gave false details,” said prosecutor Robyn Khan, adding the officer was told they had walked there from Wisbech, a distance of 29 miles.

When Ovendale started swearing and failing to comply over his drink, others in the group tried to calm him down. This failed and when Sgt Mitchell went to arrest him, Bannister got involved, kicking the officer several times.

He managed to detain them both before locking Bannister in the back of his car. She proceeded to kick a window and cause damage to a door frame. Sgt Mitchell noticed the tip of one of his middle fingers was at a horrible angle. It needed hospital treatment.

In a later statement on the May 8 incident, he said: “It was the first time in 19 years that I’ve used the emergency button to summon assistance.”

Ovendale pleaded guilty to resisting a police constable and being drunk and disorderly in public.

Bannister admitted assaulting an emergency worker and criminal damage.

Solicitor Andrew Cogan, for Ovendale, said his client was “deeply ashamed” and accepts that he shouldn’t have been in the position he was.

Calvin Saker, for Bannister, said she was “hugely remorseful” and was very much against drinking from now on.

Ovendale was given 50 hours’ unpaid work as part of a 12-month community order, fined £100 and told to pay £105 costs and £95 victim surcharge.

A pre-sentence report was ordered on Bannister, who was granted unconditional bail to the next hearing on August 6.