A TOWN centre drinker grabbed a woman PCSO’s hand as she confiscated his can of lager because he didn’t have cash to buy more booze.
Anthony Holmes (31) was in Spalding’s Gore Lane car park when PCSO Bev Robinson and another officer approached at 1.50pm on May 24, Spalding magistrates heard.
Marie Stace, prosecuting, said Holmes grabbed PCSO Robinson’s hand as she took his drink.
The officer’s finger was trapped against the can, causing pain, but she had no lasting injury.
Holmes then threw abuse and used four letter words.
Miss Stace said there were other drinkers in the car park at the time and most threw their alcohol away.
She said Holmes later told police he didn’t throw his drink away because he thought it would be his last can of beer for a while.
Holmes, of Gosberton Road, Spalding, pleaded guilty to common assault and was sentenced to a year-long supervision order with an alcohol treatment order for six months.
He also admitted a public order matter arising from the incident and was given no separate penalty.
Solicitor Mike Alexander, mitigating, said: “The officer took the can out of Mr Holmes’s hand and he reacted in the way you have heard about, trying to grab the can back. He had no intention to harm her.
“It was the last can he had and he had no money to buy any more.”