A man was seen "veering in and out of cars" naked before he went on to pull down the trousers of a female police officer. A court heard that Curtis Norris was high on drugs at the time.
His behaviour caused traffic chaos in May when he stripped naked and paraded between cars. Norris, 31, was left facing charges that included indecent exposure, sexual assault and criminal damage following what a judge called a "bizarre" incident.
It unfolded in Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees, in May this year. Norris faced a court this week.
At the sentencing hearing at Teesside Crown Court, prosecutor Jenny Haigh said Norris was seen ripping up clumps of grass in a rage by a driver. Ms Haigh said: "[A witness] rang the police, he was concerned for the safety of the defendant. The defendant was veering in and out of cars whilst naked."
Ms Haigh said two officers were driving past when they spotted the defendant and stopped to help, reports TeessideLive. It was claimed Norris also hit out at a car being driven by a woman chauffeuring her elderly mother.
Ms Haigh said: "He was gesticulating in rage and she heard him shout 'you f****** c****' and other obscenities. She was so frightened she locked her car, worried he might try to get in. The defendant chased her and left two dents in the bonnet."
A female officer tried to intervene, but he grabbed her and tried to snatch her police radio while shouting for the keys to her vehicle. The pair scuffled and he pulled her to the floor before pulling the officer's trousers down.
Ms Haigh said: "The officer was in shock, she was very upset. She was fearful because he was extremely strong and she couldn't prevent him pulling at her clothes. She was struggling to breathe and could feel his hands tearing at her clothes."
In a victim impact statement the officer said: "It has caused me embarrassment and humiliation. I've experienced panic attacks and developed anxiety which I've been prescribed medication for. I'm not the same person I used to be."
The court heard during the commotion Norris bit one witness who was trying to help the officer before several police arrived and arrested the defendant.
Mitigating for Norris, Nicci Horton said prior to the event Norris took cocaine and nitrous oxide. She said he had a limited recollection of what happened and had a reaction to the drugs.
She also told the court prior to the event in question he was working on himself, adding: "He spent time improving himself and was trying to keep out of trouble. He moved away from the area where he was having difficulties, was looking after his mother, got a job and stopped drinking. He was also exercising as a way to try to manage his own mental health issues."
Norris, of Wooler Crescent, Billingham, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, attempted robbery, two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, criminal damage and indecent exposure. He was jailed for three years.
Addressing the defendant, Judge Stephen Ashurst said: "This is a very bizarre set of offences with very serious consequences. You attacked a member of the public and two public servants.
"You ended up on top of a police officer. You were out of control. You pulled down her trousers and underwear and exposed her buttocks."
