A Warwick man convicted of violently resisting arrest and assaulting police was yesterday given a conditional discharge.

Rodney Drummond had pleaded guilty to using threatening words to police, and was found guilty of violently resisting arrest and assaulting officers following a Magistrates’ Court trial.

All three charges relate to an incident on April 15 last year at a Warwick residence following reports of a domestic disturbance. When police arrived they found Drummond holding a beer bottle. While the officers ordered Drummond to put the bottle down, he refused and the conflict escalated.

All three offences carry a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and/or a $2,880 fine.

Prosecutor Nicole Smith said that based on the results of a social inquiry report, Drummond showed a contempt for police and a belief that he did nothing wrong, saying: “In the society that we live in, that’s a dangerous perception.”

However, she said that given all of the facts of the case, a period of probation with conditions requiring Drummond undergo anger management would be the appropriate sentence.

But defence lawyer Marc Daniels, representing Drummond, argued that a conditional discharge would be fitting, noting the positive character references provided in the report which described the incident as completely out of character.

Drummond himself apologised to the court for wasting its time, but added: “I still maintain that I was innocent in that situation. What I was guilty for, I pleaded guilty?”

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo expressed concern about Drummond’s attitude towards police, saying the hostility was clear while he was on the stand during the trial, but he also noted that Drummond had no previous convictions and otherwise seemed to be on the right track.

Mr Tokunbo gave Drummond a 12-month conditional discharge on conditions including that he undergo anger management and other recommended programmes and abstain from the use of drugs and alcohol.

“You have good things going for you,” Mr Tokunbo said. “You have otherwise got your head on tight. Continue disliking the police, but tone down that hostility because you won’t always get off this light.”