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A drunken, topless De Montfort University student punched a police officer in the face as she was trying to help him. The incident happened outside Mosh nightclub in Leicester city centre and, moments before it happened, Jiaming Chang had been seen running in front of traffic and had to be held down by his friends.
As he lay on the ground being restrained he grabbed at the Leicestershire Police officer’s ankle before getting up and putting her in a headlock and punching her. Members of the public and other officers pulled him off and at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, January 11, he pleaded guilty to assault by beating of an emergency worker.
Prosecutor Andrew Conboy told the court: “On December 4 at about midnight the Pc and another officer were flagged down outside Mosh nightclub in St Nicholas Circle. Mr Chang was topless and was being restrained by members of the public.
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“The police were informed he had been running out into the road, putting other people and himself in danger. Mr Chang was with his male friend and his girlfriend who were trying to restrain him.”
He said Chang’s friends told the officers he was very drunk and at first the officers just told them to get Chang in a taxi and take him home, which they agreed to. But then Chang, of no fixed address, attacked the officer.
Mr Conboy said: “Mr Chang was struggling on the ground and shouting and was somewhat aggressive. He grabbed the officer’s ankle and then let go.
“She told him not to do that and he suddenly got up and got her in a headlock and he punched her in the face. She pushed her emergency panic alarm and members of the public tried to get Mr Chang to let go of her.”
The magistrates were shown photographs of the injuries she suffered, including a cut to her chin and grazing to her wrist. Mr Conboy said she had also suffered back pain, a sore throat, headaches and emotional trauma.
He said: “She said the incident had left her in shock. She said she could not believe someone she was trying to help had turned on her and assaulted her.
“She said she had never felt so vulnerable – having a young, fit man exerting his full force on her. She was relieved her colleagues were so close or she could have been seriously hurt.”
Jatinder Sokhal, representing Chang, said his client was a third-year student at De Montfort University, studying business management and hoping to go on to do a masters degree later this year at York University. He said Chang was financially supported by his parents in China, who would also be punishing their son.
Explaining the background to what happened, he said: “He had had a disagreement with his girlfriend and had drunk alcohol. He had more than usual and that’s something he doesn’t often do.
“He went out in a drunken state.”
He said Chang believed he had been attacked by someone else, suffering a chipped tooth, and that when he attacked the police officer he believed she was the person that had attacked him. Mr Sokhal said: “He received a chipped tooth and somehow ended up topless and restrained on the floor.
“As the officers turned up he was in something of a state. He got up but was unaware she was a police officer trying to assist him and foolishly he carried out the incident as alleged. After the assault he believed the officer was that person.
“The conviction will have significant consequences for him personally and professionally. His parents in China are distraught that he has got himself in this situation.
“He is also being punished by his parents. This is very much out of character.”
Chang was given a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work. He will also have to pay the police officer £200 compensation, as well as £85 court costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
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