A man tackled a police officer to the ground twice because he believed he was being 'wrongfully' arrested after breaking Covid lockdown restrictions.
Daniel Carr, 37, injured two police officers after they tried to arrest him for organising an event in a Heywood park which breached Covid restrictions in February 2021. The court heard how Carr had advertised the event on social media in the weeks leading up to it as a gathering to 'help each other's health and wellbeing', offering free martial arts lessons to children.
Appearing at Minshull Street Crown Court on Tuesday morning, Carr told Judge Angela Nield he 'took full responsibility' for his actions that day, in which he caused injury to PC Mahmood's shoulder and PC Zeb's wrist. He told the court his 'intention that day' was to 'help people struggling with their mental health' during the pandemic, and pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm.
Representing himself, the qualified martial arts instructor told the court his mental state had been affected by lockdown and his mother's recent cancer diagnosis, and that he 'still believed that what I was trying to do was right'.
"Assaulting a police constable trying to arrest me no matter how wrongfully I thought, was wrong," he said. "It caused me to lose my judo club and many friendships, as well as the respect of a lot of people in my community.
He said the way he acted on Saturday February 27, 2021, was 'in no way representative of who I am or who I want to be'.
Prosecuting, Mr Craig MacGregor said Carr had been sent a cease and desist letter from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) on February 4 after they became aware of social media posts advertising the gathering, and was served with a direction from Rochdale Borough Council telling him not to host the event.
He told the court Carr had advertised free martial arts lessons for children on the event online, before adding 'If I haven't been arrested hopefully'. He said the 37-year-old had been 'teasing' and 'goading' the police officers prior to the assault, and his actions 'did not take account of' people trying to use the park lawfully.
Sentencing, Judge Nield said Carr's offence took place 'during a period when the country was under Covid regulations and restrictions' and that the arrest made by PCs Mahmood and Zeb 'did not justify the actions you then took'.
"Your purpose and full intention was to help others who might have been struggling as you were yourself with your mental health, she told Carr. "The most significant aggravating factor is the fact that it was an offence against an officer acting on his duties."
Carr, of Lennox Walk, was handed a 12 month community sentence, with 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to undertake 10 days of rehabilitation requirement activity.
Judge Nield told him she 'sincerely hoped' she would not see him again.
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