Pensioner grounded for housing officer assault
A 67-year-old man who assaulted a housing officer has been banned from leaving his home between 12 noon and 6pm.
Roy Witherden has been handed the 28-day curfew, a six month community order, and told to pay £200 in costs and £50 in compensation to his victim, following an attack on a female housing officer on 4 August last year.
Mr Witherden became abusive after being served with applications for an injunction and possession of his property, as a result of previous anti-social behaviour. He threw a 42-page document at the Mansfield District Council housing officer, injuring her in the eye, then fled.
At a hearing held in Chesterfield Magistrates court on Monday, Mr Witherden denied the offence, but was found guilty by the district judge, who accepted the prosecution’s evidence.
Danny McCrossan, portfolio holder for public protection at the council, said: ‘It is totally unacceptable for anyone to assault a council employee for nothing more than doing their job. The council will not hesitate to take action against anyone who is abusive towards employees.’
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Readers' comments (43)
Melvin Bone | 20/01/2010 4:23 pm
I'm surprised he escaped a prison sentence.
There can be no excuse for an assault of this nature.
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Joe Halewood | 20/01/2010 4:37 pm
So 67 year-old "Mr Witherden became abusive after being served with applications for an injunction and possession of his property, as a result of previous anti-social behaviour."
Pity hes an older person else we could call him feral scum....have a rant about evicting such scum......restate that (clear truth) thatasb is the sole preserve of the young ..... the young today dont even have any morals and .....older males would never attack a woman....they are all cowards .... and i can think of more accurate vernacular!
If the perpetrator here had been 27 anyone think a 28-day curfew would have been handed down or even sought?
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| 20/01/2010 5:04 pm
Well membership of the feral scum class is compliant with all age discrimination and equality regulations; applicants for the monicker of "feral scum" are not discriminated against on the grounds of age, race or gender.
Read the full story at
http://www.mansfield.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3393
"Eight days after the assault, Witherden gave a 12 month undertaking not to use violence, make threats or be abusive to neighbours at the Melville Court complex or council staff."
Age is no barrier to ASB.
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The ONLY One | 20/01/2010 5:49 pm
Kass will no doubt incur that the housing officer got what they deserved and that the poor pensioner was probably abused so much by their housing provider that it was a last desperate attempt bourne out of frustration.
And no, a 28 day curfew, and £250 in costs/fines is pathetic when compared with other similar offences by 'younger' folk.
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regjoe | 20/01/2010 6:28 pm
The Housing Officer got injured by the pensioner throwing paper at her. It's good to see they are taking such a strong stance against these life threatening injuries.
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kass | 20/01/2010 11:04 pm
"The ONLY One | Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:49 GMT
Kass will no doubt incur that the housing officer got what they deserved and that the poor pensioner was probably abused so much by their housing provider that it was a last desperate attempt bourne out of frustration...."
And on what are you basing this?
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kass | 20/01/2010 11:04 pm
"The ONLY One | Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:49 GMT
Kass will no doubt incur that the housing officer got what they deserved and that the poor pensioner was probably abused so much by their housing provider that it was a last desperate attempt bourne out of frustration...."
And on what are you basing this?
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Cant believe what was written | 21/01/2010 8:07 am
What is "The ONLY One" basing it on??!!! I dunno - the fact you stated that tenants who commit murder do so because they are driven to it by their landlords. Its not their fault its the fault of housing officers.
Read your own lies.
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kass | 21/01/2010 9:36 am
" Cant believe what was written | Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:07 GMT
What is "The ONLY One" basing it on??!!! I dunno - the fact you stated that tenants who commit murder do so because they are driven to it by their landlords. Its not their fault its the fault of housing officers.
Read your own lies."
Could you point where exactly I said this?
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Bill Douses | 21/01/2010 9:39 am
regjoe:
The injury isn't the point here, its the fact he attacked someone.
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