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Celebrating dad punched police officer

A father who went out to celebrate the birth of his baby ended up spending the night in a cell after head-butting a man before punching a police officer in the face.

Thomas Foord, 20, who admitted common assault and assault causing actual bodily harm, was given a suspended prison sentence at Lewes Crown Court.

The court heard Foord, a father-of-two, who has no previous convictions, started causing trouble in the Trek nightclub, in Newhaven, on the night of October 21 last year after drinking ten pints of lager.

He approached Andrew Baker, another clubber, who had started a relationship with an ex-girlfriend of Foord's cousin. Foord called Mr Baker abusive names before headbutting him in the face, causing him a bleeding nose.

Dianne Gordon-Bassett, prosecuting, said: "The defendant told him to go home or he would stab him."

Foord, of Barn Rise, Seaford, stayed at the club until it closed after 2am. Outside a number of police officers who were ensuring there was no trouble at closing time saw Foord drunkenly shouting and swearing.

When Sergeant Andrew Harwood tried to get Foord to move on he refused.

The officer told Foord he was under arrest for abusive behaviour and he responded by punching the sergeant in the face, giving him a black eye and causing a cut, which left a scar.

Ahmed Hossain, defending, said Foord was a law-abiding, hard-working family man who had acted out of character after a night of drinking.

After his arrest, Foord apologised for hitting the officer and wrote a letter to him days later.

Judge Charles Kemp told Foord: "You have lost your good character in spectacular fashion.

Your conduct was appalling but I am prepared to accept it was, to a degree, surprising.

"The police officers' job is difficult enough these days and when somebody unleashes an attack on a decent officer trying to do his job, it makes it harder."

Foord was sentenced to ten months in jail suspended for two years. He was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work in the community.

He must pay £400 compensation to the police officer and £100 compensation to Mr Baker as well as £500 court costs.

12:23pm Friday 28th March 2008

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Posted by: Me, here on 12:59pm Fri 28 Mar 08
"Celebrating dad punched police officer"

Most of us would probably crack open a bottle of chapagne.
Still, I suppose others have different ways of celebrating.
Posted by: Me, here on 1:05pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Me wrote:
"Celebrating dad punched police officer" Most of us would probably crack open a bottle of chapagne. Still, I suppose others have different ways of celebrating.
I meant 'champagne', of course.
'Chapagne' is just for men!
Posted by: Stroller, Hove on 1:15pm Fri 28 Mar 08
With father like that, it looks a grim future for the child.

And why shouldn't Andrew Baker
"start a relationship" with Foord's cousin's ex-girlfriend?

Most people have several "relationships" before sticking with one woman. Or is Foord, aged only twenty, bitter at not having played the field before having two children by that age?

I predict a divorce.
Posted by: chris cox, worthing on 1:44pm Fri 28 Mar 08
yet another oxygen thief nice way to celebrate your childs birth shame he wasnt with the mother or was she on the lash wiv her mates
Posted by: Newhavener, Newhaven on 3:40pm Fri 28 Mar 08
"started causing trouble in the Trek nightclub, in Newhaven,"
I didn't know the Trek had moved from Seaford? I went there once and that was enough for me, it's craper than the crapest club in Brighton :-p I know people who only go there at closing just to look at the Seaford chav's fighting!
Posted by: Ronnie, Brighton on 4:16pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Oh dear - its the standard defence statement now isnt it!

"My client acted completely out of character, and has sent a letter of apology to the victim to show his remorse"!!!!!!!!! **** hell! - Its obvious the blokes a violent scumbag who probably has assaulted lots of people, but simply avoided conviction. He even threatened to stab someone earlier in the evening . . .

At least he'll be cleaning up dog **** and other appropriate tasks with his 'unpaid work in the community'. And its cost him £1000! Yipeee!

Posted by: Laura Norder, in the right as always on 4:54pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Ronnie wrote:
Oh dear - its the standard defence statement now isnt it! "My client acted completely out of character, and has sent a letter of apology to the victim to show his remorse"!!!!!!!!! **** hell! - Its obvious the blokes a violent scumbag who probably has assaulted lots of people, but simply avoided conviction. He even threatened to stab someone earlier in the evening . . . At least he'll be cleaning up dog **** and other appropriate tasks with his 'unpaid work in the community'. And its cost him £1000! Yipeee!
I prefer a different view - if he's never caused trouble with anyone before the age of 20 - how do we know he's a violent scumbag? Maybe the Police just went in heavyhanded to justify the overtime, maybe the reason for the altercation in the club was because of something not being reported. Give the bloke a chance before writing him off - never lost your temper?
Posted by: Big Cheese, Peacehaven on 5:15pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Will the proud mother be pasting this article into her scrapbook of "Baby's First Year"?
Posted by: CAPITAL CITY OF LONDON, WHItehawk on 9:53pm Fri 28 Mar 08
HELLO JEREMY KYLE (big cheese)
GREAT USE OF CAPITALS HERE SORRY ABOUT THE OVER USAGE IN MY TEXT THOUGH i shall be sure to get get some english lessons so i can spell as well as you (refer to the capital mafia in the drug dealers story) all the best x

Posted by: FRED, worthing on 2:17pm Sun 30 Mar 08
Hes just a young lad. Hes never been in trouble before.He done well at school. Hes a good chap,most of the time.Hes just a little misunderstood. Laura, you and your lot make me sick. Its your type of person that is resposible for the sad down hill slide of this country. Maybe one day some body like that bully, will smash you in the face, or maybe stick a knife in you. Its sad dogooders like you, who see every body as a person who needs help, that keep most people indoors at night, too scared to go out. Just once in your worthless life, think of the poor s*d who got beaten up.I see you never mentioned him! The next time a "misunderstood" whacks some one, lets hope its you.
Posted by: Kickboxer, Worthing on 2:34pm Sun 30 Mar 08
FRED wrote:
Hes just a young lad. Hes never been in trouble before.He done well at school. Hes a good chap,most of the time.Hes just a little misunderstood. Laura, you and your lot make me sick. Its your type of person that is resposible for the sad down hill slide of this country. Maybe one day some body like that bully, will smash you in the face, or maybe stick a knife in you. Its sad dogooders like you, who see every body as a person who needs help, that keep most people indoors at night, too scared to go out. Just once in your worthless life, think of the poor s*d who got beaten up.I see you never mentioned him! The next time a "misunderstood" whacks some one, lets hope its you.
Couldn't have put it better myself Fred, far to many bleeding heart, it wasn't his/her fault, just misunderstood brigade for my liking. Either A) they live in some posh troublefree area and have no idea of the grief some of these scumbags cause, or B) They are parents /relatives or friends of scumbags.
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