An Oxford college boatman who damaged car wing mirrors because they were illegally parked went on to swing for a female police officer during the Henley Regatta Week.
Thomas Stewardson, 30, had taken the week off to support friends at the annual rowing festival, Oxford Magistrates’ Court heard on Friday (July 28).
He was out drinking on the night of June 28 when he took umbrage at cars parked on zig zag lines in the town centre.
A bystander told two police officers out on patrol that they had seen Stewardson damaging car wing mirrors.
READ MORE: Arrests made at Henley Regatta
The officers discovered that a Mini Cooper’s wing mirror housing or cover had been removed, while a Suzuki Swift’s mirror was smashed.
They found Stewardson, who was ‘clearly annoyed and angry’, prosecutor Elona Panxha said. He ignored the police officer’s request that he give her his details.
Having been asked again for his name, Stewardson turned around then swung for officer PC Helen Backhouse.
She managed to get him in a bear hug but was struck in the back of the head by the defendant.
The officer tried to pin his arms but Stewardson grabbed hold of her and would not let go as she shouted at him to release her.
PC Backhouse had written a victim impact statement, but it was not disclosed to the defendant’s lawyers before the hearing.
The magistrates left court so the statement could be sent to Stewardson’s advocate. When the delay dragged on, the bench returned into court and said they ‘would be well aware of what this police officer suffered during this incident and we think we should proceed without hearing her statement’.
Taken to the police station, he was searched and found to have a Swiss Army-style knife. He apologised for his actions earlier, telling custody staff: “I’m so sorry to your colleague.”
Mitigating, David Hicks said his client had taken the week off and gone to Henley ‘with the intention of helping anybody who needed help’. That was the reason he had the utility knife.
He was ‘greatly remorseful’ for what he had done. “He’s never acted like this before. He puts it down to the excessive amount of drink he’d had on an empty stomach.”
Stewardson, of Montagu Road, Oxford, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to causing criminal damage, assaulting an emergency worker and possession of a bladed article. He had no previous convictions.
The magistrates imposed an 18 month community order with up to 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He must pay a total of £750 in compensation and a £114 victim surcharge.
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