Arrested man kicked police officer in the groin 'out of frustration'

A man kicked a police officer in the groin after being arrested in Leicester city centre. Edward Cash was found "on top of" another man during the incident before he lashed out at the officer.

Cash, a recovering alcoholic, had been found by police in Leicester's Conduit Street on Monday, March 18. After being arrested, the 33-year-old lashed out, swinging his foot at the officer's crotch while he was sitting in the back of a police van

At Leicester Magistrates' Court on Wednesday (November 6), prosecutor Tejal Muru said: "He kicked the officer to the groin area, causing pain and discomfort. The police officer said he was emotionally and physically shocked by being assaulted and the kick hurt him. He said he didn't go to work to be assaulted."

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Bal Singh, representing Cash, said the incident that led to the arrest began with Cash himself being assaulted. He said: "He was on Conduit Street and was assaulted by an unknown male with a glass bottle. The bottle was swung and hit the side of his head. When police arrived they saw Mr Cash on top of the male."

Mr Singh said his client had tried to explain to the police what happened and then kicked the officer "out of frustration" and that only a single kick was involved. Cash had pleaded guilty to assault by beating of an emergency worker, which often results in a community order with unpaid work and a compensation payment to the injured officer.

Mr Singh said Cash was a recovering alcoholic and that since June he had been at a rehab centre in Nottinghamshire run by Christian charity Betel UK and that he would be there for at least 12 to 18 months, during which time he would not be claiming benefits and not receiving any income at all.

Mr Singh said: "Clearly a police officer was injured but the situation Mr Cash is in is different from someone who is not in rehab." He added that a community order would not be effective as Cash was already on two community orders for other offences, so he asked for a conditional discharge for his client.

Simon Edwards, chair of the bench, told Cash: "We're pleased you're getting treatment and we want all of that to continue and we want you to be rehabilitated. Because you haven't got any income we can't award any compensation."

The magistrates gave Cash, of Old Rufford Road, Calverton, Nottinghamshire, a 12-month conditional discharge with a £26 victim surcharge. Mr Edwards told the prosecutor: "Can we ask the prosecution to pass on to the officer that this man has two community orders he is working through and doesn't have any income."