A MAN who gouged a policeman's eye as he tried to remove him from a house where he was causing a disturbance has been jailed for six months.

Jane Hunt

A STOWMARKET man who gouged a policeman's eye as he tried to remove him from a house where he was causing a disturbance has been jailed for six months.

Police were called to the home of William Banks' girlfriend in Edgar Avenue, Stowmarket, after he refused to leave the premises after an argument, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Two officers took hold of 22-year-old Banks by his arms and when he tried to pull away from them their colleague Pc Gavin Goldsmith took hold of Banks by his head and tried to put him down to the floor, said Naomi Turner prosecuting.

Banks had then put his finger in Pc Goldsmith's eye and moved it around causing the officer severe pain.

Miss Turner said the officer was unable to remove Banks' finger and had hit him to get him to let go.

Banks had continued to struggle with the officers and had sworn at them and a 12-year-old child who witnessed the incident had been upset.

Banks was taken to a police station and claimed he hadn't intentionally gouged the officer's eye and claimed he had accidently injured him while trying to get his balance.

Miss Turner said that as a result of the incident on July 25 Pc Goldsmtih suffered three small cuts below his eye and scratches around his eye.

Banks, of Ravencroft, Combs Ford, admitted assaulting Pc Goldsmith causing him actual bodily harm and was jailed for six months. Passing sentence judge David Goodin said Banks had been in the process of being lawfully removed from the property when he gouged the officer's eye.

Judge Goddin said it was accepted that the gouging hadn't been done intentionally but said it had caused an “unpleasant, very painful and potentially serious injury”.

Greg Perrins, for Banks, said his client had been drinking on the night in question and had an argument with his girlfriend.

“The situation on any view was emotional and somewhat highly charged,” he said.

He said Banks had put his arms out to break his fall when he was being taken to the floor by the officers and hadn't intentionally gouged the officer's eye.