Assault on a police officer

[liverbird2005]

I was charged with assaulting a police officer over the weekend. I was out with friends when I was in a heated discussion with door staff. The policeman came to me to move me backwards without any warning or identifying himself and I thought he was another doorman who was pushing me ( the way on which he pushed me back was like a hug) Regrettably I hit him with one blow to the side of the head and I was then arrested. I was fully cooperative from then on realising I had made a mistake. I have written the officer a letter apologising as I feel awful about why happened. He received a small amount of bruising to his eye.

I have a previous charge from 6 years ago for ABH where I received community service and a fine.

I was wondering if anyone knew what the likely outcome will be as I am due to be getting married in 4 weeks.

Thanks

[murraymints]

abh or gbh..???

[Kiki-frog]

I was going to ask that, murray. Community service for ABH?

[murraymints]

abh..probably fine and a bit of cs..but gbh with previous maybe different !

[liverbird2005]

It just says assault, no mention of ABH or GBH just te summary only offence.

[woofgang]

maybe this would be a good time to decide not to have any heated discussions?

[murraymints]

hopefully cs and fine..do not do it again !!

[EDDIE51]

This is not GBH with just a small amount of bruising.
It would be ABH or common assult if it was to a member of the public , but assulting a police officer in the course of his duty may be considered worse and get a diffrent charge. Hopefully community service and a fine but with your 'previous' and the fact that it was a police officer there is an outside chance of a short custodial sentence.

[joko]

if the police man was plain clothes he should really have identified himself before manhandling you - i imagine 99% of people who feel they have suddenly been grabbed in a bodily hug as you claim by a strong stranger would take that as a fairly threatening and scary position to be in and would react with some struggle etc and even violence.
i dont know if you are female - but if so that is even worse.

i would present that in your case...that you felt you were in danger and under attack and reacted.

if he was in uniform then obviously he should still have been clear but i guess its harder to say you didnt know he was a pc...

[liverbird2005]

I am a male. I understand that circumstances permitting he would not of got his ID out. I did not hear anyone shout police. Not that this makes it ok, far from it. He was in uniform but all I saw was a yellow high vis jacket and immediately thought it was a doorman and as the doormen were already threatening felt vulnerable myself.