Drug dealer who attacked police officer walks free from court after a judge said he ‘needs help’

A violent drug dealer who kicked a police officer in the testicles when he was threatened with arrest has walked free from court – after a judge said he “needs help”.

Dominic Maynard, 30, was serving a suspended sentence for drug dealing and carrying a weapon when he attacked PC Iain Walker in a drug and booze-fuelled rage.

Police had been called after Maynard’s own father dialled 999 when his son refused to leave and was causing a disturbance outside his home.

Maynard admitted being drunk and disorderly, assaulting an emergency worker and breaching a suspended sentence.

He was handed another suspended sentence and a 12-month community order at Warwick Crown Court on Monday (9 August).

‘You need help’

Recorder Francesca Levett said: “You have breached the terms of the suspended sentence order as you failed to attend appointments, and you have also committed two further offences.

“You have been frank with me today and accepted you took heroin yesterday. You need help.

“It is unacceptable for you to take no responsibility for the impact your offending has on the wider public and particularly on emergency workers.

“Despite being given the opportunity of support and assistance, you have continued to take heroin.

“The suspended sentence was your opportunity to take control of your life, and you have failed to do so.

“But hearing that you have attended a large number of appointments despite being ravaged by addiction, I am going to give you one last chance.”

The court heard Maynard, of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warks., was previously handed a 20-month suspended sentence last September for possessing Class A drugs with intent to

supply and having a bladed article.

Addicted to drugs since age of 14

Joshua Purser, prosecuting, said he had repeatedly breached the conditions of his suspended sentence, adding: “It is said he’s made no progress at all in respect of that order.”

He said: “On June 4 this year his father called the police to report that Maynard was causing a nuisance outside his home in Baker Avenue.

“He had taken drugs and been drinking wine and was asking to borrow money.

“He he was heard shouting and swearing and again asking for money. Again he was asked to leave, but refused.”

The court heard he lashed out after PC Walker tried to take a bottle from him.

Mr Purser said: “The defendant became volatile and pushed PC Walker, so he and another officer took him to the floor where he is kicking out and makes contact with PC Walker’s legs and genital area.”

Queenie Djan, defending, said: “He immediately regretted his behaviour which was due to being intoxicated.

“He has been addicted to drugs since the age of 14.

“He suffers brain bleeds as a result of a drug overdose earlier this year, and that has caused him to suffer some memory loss.”

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading. NationalWorld is a new national news brand, produced by a team of journalists, editors, video producers and designers who live and work across the UK. Find out more about who’s who in the team, and our editorial values. We want to start a community among our readers, so please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and keep the conversation going. You can also sign up to our newsletters and get a curated selection of our best reads to your inbox every day.