Drunken Metro yob sprayed off-duty PCSO with fire extinguisher – Crime – Sunderland Echo
Published on Monday 16 January 2012 14:14
A YOB sprayed an off-duty police community support officer with a fire extinguisher as he messed about on the Metro.
Liam Colin Mitchinson squirted water at the woman during a drunken prank, a court heard.
Prosecutor Paul Anderson told Sunderland Magistrates’ Court that the woman felt something on her back and turned round to see the 22-year-old firing water at her.
Mitchinson and a friend got off at the Stadium of Light stop but the incident was captured on CCTV.
When he was interviewed by police, hapless Mitchinson agreed he was on the Metro, but had been drunk and couldn’t remember why he launched his foolish stunt.
Mr Anderson added: “He regretted what he had done, but was drunk and could not really remember it.”
Mitchinson, of Euston Court, Carley Hill, pleaded guilty to assault after the offence on August 22.
Defending, Trish Mytton said her client did not know his victim was an off-duty police community support officer and had set the fire extinguisher off as a joke.
“I have watched the CCTV with him and it is quite clear that him and his associate think they are being extremely funny, but it is clear that they are not,” she said.
“They can be seen squirting the water up into the air and chuckling to themselves and thinking they are funny, when they are not.
“Ironically, there are several Metro staff there who seem not to notice.”
She added that Mitchinson had been a regular offender from 2008 to early 2010, but was now settling down, had a young child and was living with the baby and his partner.
Sentencing him, District Judge Roger Elsey branded his actions as “childish” and ordered to complete 60 hours of unpaid work, pay £40 compensation to his victim and £40 towards court costs.
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