A MAN who attacked a police officer just five days after being given a probation order for a separate offence thanked the Magistrate’s Court as he was given a “last chance” to avoid jail.
Hugo Miguel Catanha De Freitas (38) appeared before the court last month when he was handed a probation order and 140 hours of community service.
But five days later -at 1am on 7 June – he was drunk on Mulcaster Street and assaulted a police officer. He appeared before the Magistrate’s Court this week after admitting attacking the officer as well as a further charge of being drunk and disorderly.
The police officer, who was on night-time economy patrol near Chambers, saw De Freitas arguing with staff after he had been ejected from the premises.
When the officer arrested De Freitas and attempted to put him in the police van, the defendant “kicked out” at the officer, “striking him in the chest on more than one occasion”, the Magistrate’s Court heard.
Advocate Nicholas Mière, defending, said the incident happened so soon after the previous offence that his client had started his probation order.
“He did not have a chance to get going with this,” he said, adding that appearing before the Magistrate’s Court for a second time in quick succession was “a painful realisation for him”.
“He knows he needs help. He has not quite had a chance to get it yet,” Advocate Mière added.
As Relief Magistrate David Cadin delivered the sentence, De Freitas cried and said “thank you”.
Mr Cadin said: “This is your last chance. You do not need me to tell you that.
“If you offend again, [there will be] only one outcome: you are going to custody and probably for a significant period of time.”
Mr Cadin warned De Freitas that he had “hard work” ahead of him, but that the orders imposed by the court “represent the best chance that you have of modifying your behaviour and dealing appropriately with the stress in your life”.
“It is time for you to stop and to deal with your issues and to move forward,” Mr Cadin continued.
De Freitas was handed an additional 40 hours of community service on top of the order already imposed and was fined £800.
