Man, 18, admits assaulting police officer in King's Lynn street

A drunken North Lynn teenager started 2019 by being arrested for assaulting a police officer, a court has heard.

Mantas Gylys, 18, was being held for being drunk and disorderly on New Year’s Day when he kicked out at a female officer in the town centre, magistrates were told yesterday.

Jane Walker, prosecuting, said the incident had happened in the early hours of January 1 in Norfolk Street.

She said: “Officers saw the defendant being aggressive towards members of the public.

“He was described as acting in a very drunken manner and, as a result of his behaviour, he was arrested for being drunk and disorderly.”

Miss Walker added that, having been detained, Gylys was handcuffed and searched.

During the search, he kicked out and his foot struck the officer in the stomach, the bench heard. He was then further arrested for assaulting her. The kick caused pain and caused the officer to lose her balance briefly.

Gylys, of Valingers Road, North Lynn, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

Mitigating, Alison Muir said Gylys was not a big drinker but on this occasion had drunk to excess.

She added: “He can’t remember what happened but describes how he is so sorry for assaulting a police officer.

“He was arrested and taken to the police station. That and the experience of having to come to court is an experience he wouldn’t want to repeat.”

Miss Muir said Gylys, who is working at a cardboard factory in Ely, had been in the UK for four months and the rest of his family were in Lithuania.

“He’s explained to his parents on the phone what he’s done and they are not very impressed,” she added.

Chair of the magistrates’ bench, Jean Bonnick, told Gylys: “The courts take a very dim view of any assault but especially on emergency workers. The police officer was doing her duty and there’s obviously no excuse for your behaviour, drunk or otherwise.”

Gylys was fined £250. He was told to pay £150 compensation to the officer, £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.