A VANDAL who trashed a police car with his crutches after he flew into a rage because he could not find a toilet has avoided a jail term today.

A VANDAL who trashed a police car with his crutches after he flew into a rage because he could not find a toilet has avoided a jail term today.

Justin Long repeatedly attacked the police car while officer Pc Daniel Ormes was inside.

The 36-year-old, of Croft Street, Ipswich, had been hobbling around on crutches in Ipswich town centre when he told officers he was going to go to the toilet in the street and asked them for a lift to a public convenience.

When the officers refused Long launched an attack on their vehicle, smashing the windscreen and the emergency lights on the roof. It is thought it will cost between £1,000 and £1,500 to repair the damage.

Long pleaded guilty to affray at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court and was sentenced to a 12-month community order with a supervision requirement, and told to pay just £200 in compensation to the police.

Naomi Turner, prosecuting, said: “He was drunk and aggressive and waving his metal crutches about. He wanted the officers to give him a lift to the toilet but they refused. The vehicle was hit so hard he broke his metal crutch in half.”

Mrs Turner added that Pc Ormes had not been able to escape from the car while the barrage took place, and had later found shards of glass on his clothes.

Eventually he got away by reversing the car and Long was arrested.

Roger Thomson, mitigating, said: “He does have serious mental health issues and he tells me that he has not had a drink since this incident.”

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