Teens avoid custody for police attack

Lizzie Parry

TWO teenagers have escaped custodial sentences after an alcohol fuelled attack on two police officers in Ipswich on New Years Day.

The incident happened on Defoe Road at about 4.50am last Thursday when police were called to the scene by an ambulance crew who were in attendance at the property.

Paramedics had become concerned about the behaviour of a separate group of youths nearby and called police officers to assist.

Officers then heard screaming and shouting another house and made efforts to enter the property.

A 17-year-old male confronted them shouting abusive language at them and tried to close the front door on them.

The teenage boy, charged with resisting a police officer, had to be taken down onto the floor to be dealt with.

A 17-year-old girl then became involved slapping one police officer in the face and kicking the other officer restraining her friend, in the face leaving him with bruising.

She was shouting abusive language at the police officers and said: “I am glad I kicked you in the face.”

At interview both teenagers admitted to being under the influence of alcohol, drinking 19 cans of beer and vodka and red bull between them.

In court they both pleaded guilty to the charges and apologised for their actions saying they were fuelled by alcohol.

The 17-year-old female received a nine month referral order for two charges of assaulting two police officers and the 17-year-old male received a six month referral order for restraining a police officer and disorderly behaviour.

She was ordered to pay �200 compensation and costs to the officers involved and the male was ordered to pay �50 costs.

To complete the referral orders and avoid a criminal record, the teenagers are required to attend a youth offender panel, made up of two volunteers from the local community and an adviser from the youth offending team. The aim is to address the causes of the offending behaviour.