Worthing man jailed for police attack

Police officers Weston-Smith and Dawson were “making routine enquiries” at the desk of the accident and emergency ward of Worthing Hospital, in Lyndhurst Road, on November 13, when 29-year-old Jimmy Meldrum “charged at them”.

Meldrum, of Cumbrian Close, had been taken to the hospital by his mother and sister because of his “strange behaviour”.

At Worthing Magistrates’ Court prosecutor Mary Walford said Meldrum was “growling” when he ran at the pair and tackled PC Weston-Smith to the ground and then pulled PC Dawson down as well. Meldrum was arrested afterwards.

It was heard Meldrum had nine previous convictions and was in breach of a conditional discharge for common assault, and had breached another conditional discharge before.

Chairman of the bench, Susan Harris, said: “Today, we have two offences of assault on women police officers and two breaches of conditional discharge, and in our opinion these offences are so serious as to warrant putting you back into custody.

“This was an unprovoked attack on public servants who were doing their job in the accident and emergency department.”

For the assault on PCs Weston-Smith and Dawson, Meldrum was sentenced on Monday, December 6 to 20 weeks’ imprisonment, which was reduced to 12 weeks due to his early guilty plea.

For breaching his conditional discharge Meldrum was sentenced to an additional 64 days, which was reduced to 43 days because of the time Meldrum had spent in custody.