Boozy mourner hits out at cop

A GRIEF stricken drinker hit the bottle before striking out at an off duty policemen and a bar manager.

Justin Taplin, 33, of Vernon Street, now faces jail for his actions.

He appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates where he admitted two counts of common assault in May this year.

The court heard Taplin, who lives in Ipswich, was in the Old Rep public house and was asking people for money before smashing a glass or bottle.

As he was being escorted out by the door staff he was abusive, demanding why he was being thrown out, said prosecutor David Coleman.

He lunged at a female member of staff with a hat and asked "how much blood do you want?" before slapping a bar manager in the face.

He then punched him on the nose, causing it to bleed.

Taplin was restrained by the door staff while the manager called police. Two off duty police officers were leaving the pub when they saw Taplin. He was outside swearing and threatening staff.

"The officer could see the male had blood on his hand and was unsteady on his feet," said Mr Coleman. His friend told him to look out before Taplin hit out at him. He was arrested.

Mitigating, Diane Infanti, said Taplin had been working all day and had not been out for some time.

His 20-year-old brother had recently died in a car accident in America and he was not able to go to the funeral.

"On the evening he was quite distressed and began drinking quite heavily," said Ms Infanti.

"He was extremely drunk. He remembers lashing out but he doesn't have much recollection about the incident," she said. "He was angry and upset and going through the grieving process."

Bench chairman Graham Barnett said: "The aggravating features are that it was an unprovoked attack, in a public place, at night and there were injuries sustained.

"The victim was a person in authority and there was also a female."

He ordered reports before sentencing on July 17 saying: "You must not assume a custodial sentence has been ruled out."