Mr Dooley Case – 1/5/19

Mr Mark Dooley, 52, from Tiptree appeared in Colchester Magistrates court on 1stMay for assaulting Special Constable Daniel Williamson, at his address in Bird Lane.

The defendant was said to have “hurled a hoover” at Williamson after consuming 20 Litres of cider causing the magistrate to state: “That’s a record!”

Natalie Anforth, prosecuting at Colchester Magistrates stated, Dooley, of 88 convictions for 168 offences, resisted the officers attempts of arrest and continued in his attack with verbal abuse and spitting in officer’s faces.

During his bail period, Dooley was spotted verbally abusing local residents in Crouch Street, Colchester and was later arrested. Anforth stated examples of such abuse to the court: “Fuck off, I eat people like you for breakfast”.

During the hearing Dooley admitted assaulting Williamson alongside using threatening words and stated: “He was out of order”.

The hearing was carried out in Mr Dooley’s absence after security escorted him to the cells, due to his outburst towards the chairman of the bench, Martin Stuchfield after urging him to be quiet.

“I am allowed to talk, I have my own mouth”.

Zoe Hosking, mitigating suggested that: “Prison will serve as a detox for him…a period away from alcohol”.

The court heard from a probation report indicating that Dooley has to attend meetings for his drinking problem until 8/2/20 but “is often late and with a drink in his hand.” He has stated at the meetings he doesn’t want to address his drinking problem because he enjoys drinking in excess and is “going to prison anyway.”

Mr Dooley‘s defence stated that he cares for his partner, and she is due to undergo surgery resulting in full time care requirements.

He received 9 weeks in prison and was ordered to pay £100 in compensation to Mr Williamson.

In reflection, this case was interesting due to the behaviour of the defendant. It was interesting to witness how the court dealt with his outburst.

It was a successful case as the judges were able to agree on the sentencing, considering his guilty plea and his previous convictions. There were no reporting restrictions involved in this case. Furthermore, I was shocked by the 9-week prison sentence because the assault in question was described as “very frightening” by the judge.

EB