Senior, 83, assaulted policeman

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A senior citizen who had a bit too much to drink admitted assaulting a police officer after he was arrested at the scene of an accident.

Harry Trott, 83, of Hamilton Parish, was not too far from home when his car collided with a motorcycle on North Shore Road on May 12. Officers arrived at the scene and found Trott arguing with the rider.

Magistrates’ Court heard that he was “unsteady on his feet and his breath smelled of alcohol”. When informed he was under arrest, Trott protested and said: “You’re going to arrest the black guy and let the white man go.”

Trott “became enraged” once placed in a cell at Hamilton Police Station, and at one point kicked Pc Albert Williams in the face and ripped his shirt.

The retiree told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner “he didn’t remember all of that” but pleaded guilty to driving while impaired, assaulting the officer and causing damage to a police uniform shirt valued at $60.

Mr Warner told the defendant that if he didn’t remember he should plead not guilty.

After conferring with the duty counsel, Trott said he wanted to “get it all over with today” and entered guilty pleas to all three counts.

Mr Warner asked the defendant “if he understood that he was involved in an accident and that a scuffle ensued with the police who attended”.

“You were rude and you kicked the officer in the face causing swelling,” said Mr Warner.

Trott said: “I really don’t remember all of that, I remember some things but not all of that.”

Mr Warner asked: “Is that because of your age or because you were drunk?”

Trott replied: “Because I was drunk, so everything you said is probably so.”

Mr Warner fined him $800 and disqualified him from driving all vehicles for one year. Trott was fined another $500 for assaulting the police officer and ordered to pay $60 in restitution for the officer’s shirt. The fines must be paid by June 31.

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