Police officer attacked at late-night Bulwell party, court told

The party took place at a house on Merchant Street on Saturday 16th August last year. But many people turned up who were not known to the occupant, and at 1.15 am the police were called to move them out.

Among them was Omari McCalla-Jones (24), of Windmill Crescent, Smethwick, West Midlands, who pleaded guilty at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court to assaulting the officer, Pc Foulds.

McCalla-Jones was in Bulwell at the time because his former girlfriend and their three-year-old daughter lived there. And he was at the party because a friend knew the person hosting it.

However, he refused to leave and ended up in a struggle with the officer that led to him being arrested.

“He spun round in an agitated state and said: don’t touch me!” Marjorie Kirkham-Smith (prosecuting) told the court.

“He lunged towards Pc Foulds, swung his arm and pushed him back, making the officer fear for his safety.

“The officer said McCalla-Jones clenched his fists tightly and was snarling at him.

“He stared directly into his eyes and was threatening. He then pushed Pc Foulds into the living-room wall and grabbed his stab vest. The officer lost his balance and was left shaking and vulnerable.”

Miss Kirkham-Smith said Pc Foulds struck McCalla-Jones with his baton, but the struggle intensified outside the house where the officer fell into some bins.

Rory McMillan (defending) said McCalla-Jones now accepted he shouldn’t have refused to leave the party.

“However, he wasn’t familiar with the area and felt the police were aggressive towards him,” said Mr McMillan.

“He grabbed the officer because he stumbled, and feels the officer misinterpreted that. Once outside, he was unwilling to accept the manner in which he was restrained.

“He apologises to the officer. With sober hindsight, he realises he should have just waited outside for a friend to pick him up.”

Mr McMillan said McCalla-Jones lived a stable life and “had no issues with drugs or alcohol”.

He had ten GCSEs and several NVQs, and was regularly in work.

“He is ambitious and determined to set a good example to his daughter,” continued Mr McMillan. “He sees this as a mistake on that path.”

After reading a probation report, District Judge Robert Zara sentenced McCalla-Jones to a community order of 12 months to include supervision by the probation service and 100 hours of unpaid work. He was told to pay compensation of £100 to Pc Foulds and court costs of £85.