College apprentice fined after shoving police officer to the ground during night out in King's Lynn

A college of West Anglia apprentice has been fined after pushing over a police officer on a night out in December.

King's Lynn Magistrates' Court heard Oliver Faulkner, 19, of Rosemary Lane, Gayton, pleaded guilty to assaulting PC Burt as well as drunk and disorderly behaviour in the centre of Lynn.

Faulkner was abusive towards police officers on Norfolk Street at 3am on the morning of Sunday, December 30 after being told to move on after he had been drinking on a night out in the town.

PC Burt did not sustain any injuries after being shoved so forcibly by Faulkner that it caused them to stumble backwards to the floor.

Faulkner was fined £250, a victim surcharge of £30, legal costs of £85 and £50 for drunk and disorderly behaviour.

Faulkner had no previous convictions and comes from a family where "discipline is important" with his stepfather having a background as a police officer and member of the RAF.

He was told by the court: "The fact you were heavily intoxicated with alcohol is actually an aggravating factor.

"No previous convictions and no serious injuries to the police officer are in your favour.

"This is on the cusp of the community service threshold. If a police officer tells you to move on you cannot shove them.

"If it happens again, the next court might not be quite as accommodating.

"Emergency workers are not there to be assaulted quite frankly.

"It's not great to now have a criminal record for a a young man like yourself."