A CHARD man who was wrongly accused of assaulting a 16-year-old girl in the street kicked off when police went to arrest him, headbutting one of the officers in the face.

Tyler Singer had been drinking when he became angry while protesting his innocence, and when he was being escorted to a van he carried out the assault, making contact with the officer’s mouth.

He was put in limb restraints and a spit hood before being taken into custody. The court heard that the initial claim of sexual assault was never proceeded with.

The 22-year-old defendant, of Holyrood Street, admitted an assault on an emergency worker, namely a police officer, by beating him on January 14 when he was in the dock before Somerset Magistrates.

The court heard that on the night in question the police received a call from a distressed female just after midnight saying she had been sexually assaulted by the defendant outside his address.

Prosecutor Giles Tippett said that, as a result, the police went to his home and found Singer, who had been drinking, and arrested him.

“They began to escort him to the van when he became angry and demanding, saying he wanted to speak to his girlfriend before being taken away, however the police said this was not appropriate,” he said.

“He was making things difficult for them to get him to the van and when a third officer went to assist, the defendant headbutted him to the face and contact was made with his upper lip causing pain and a sore tooth.

“He was put into limb restraints and a spit hood and remained aggressive during his arrest.”

The officer suffered pain after the assault but had no visible injuries.

The court also heard that Singer was on a community order at the time of the offence for drug and dishonesty matters, and the day after the incident the order had been revoked by the court and he had been sent to prison.

Defending solicitor Sam White said that the allegation of sexual assault was something which his client refuted from the outset, and an investigation by the police resulted in no action being taken.

“One can understand why Singer was becoming irate after his arrest for something that he knew to be unfounded and based on the word of one individual,” he explained.

“However, this did not justify what he did, and he said he was terribly sorry and was thankful that no injury was caused.

“The day after this incident he received a custodial sentence, and he is still a user of heroin and subject to post sentence supervision.”

He added that the defendant remained with his partner who had supported him throughout, and they now planned to move to Bournemouth.

The magistrates sentenced Singer to a 12-month community order with a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement and 10 rehabilitation activity days.

He was also fined £100 and ordered to pay £1,009 compensation to the police officer along with a £114 victim surcharge.