Burnham Market man punched policeman

A police officer investigating a possible Covid regulations breach at a second home in Burnham Market was punched by the owner.

A scuffle broke out after Howard Gleave received a warning over being arrested and goaded the officer that he was “not big enough” to do it.

Reports of Gleave being at his Woodside home had been made and a policeman went to speak to him, Lynn Magistrates’ Court was told on Thursday.

“Mr Gleave did state he was expecting police as he had had some issues with neighbours,” said prosecutor Adam Warn.

“The defendant’s wife appeared at the front door behind Mr Gleave. He shouted at her to go away and she went back into the house.”

When she returned soon afterwards, he pushed her away.

“The police officer said if he did it again he would be arrested. Mr Gleave replied that he couldn’t do that, he was not big enough.”

As the policeman went to take hold of him, Gleave assaulted him to the face. The officer used Parva spray but still the 64-year-old continued to resist arrest and the scuffle went on, even after Gleave was handcuffed.

The officer's Samsung watch was damaged during the struggle.

Gleave pleaded guilty to assault by beating an emergency worker on February 24.

Rob Pollington, mitigating, said it had been a “solitary blow” and had come in a “perfect storm” of circumstances in his client’s life.

He explained how Gleave’s wife had been treated for a serious health issue and he’d taken the decision to move them from London to Norfolk for her best interests during the Covid pandemic.

She had then been contacted about having a vaccination and they were forced to travel to London, having been told it could not be administered in Norfolk.

“When he arrived back, because there have been some underlying matters with neighbours, he expected police to arrive,” added Mr Pollington.

It was a “glib, immature” comment to the police officer, said Mr Pollington, and as a former military man his client understood the need for rules and respect.

Gleave told the court: “I would just like to apologise to the police officer.”

He was fined £576 and ordered to pay £229 compensation to the policeman, £58 victim surcharge and £105 costs.