Officer dragged from car and beaten by dog walker

A police officer on his way to work was dragged from his car and beaten by a dog walker in an early morning attack.

Leon Richards, 23, punched Pc Ben Willetts repeatedly in the face and hit him with a lead after the officer braked sharply to avoid hitting his attacker's dog, which ran in front of his car, Wolverhampton Magistrates heard.

The attack happened at around 6.25am on November 27 in Broad Lanes, Bilston.

Prosecuting, Mrs Lauranne Middleton told the court the officer's injuries included a suspected broken nose, cut lip, bruising and grazing. She said after the near-miss with the dog, the officer took off his seat belt and was about to get out when "the car door was opened and he was dragged out of the car by his clothing which was police issue t-shirt and jacket with a police logo".

She added: "He was punched several times in the face and whipped by the defendant using the dog lead."

Richards, of Weston Drive in Bilston, then left the officer to retrieve his dog but returned as the victim was looking for his glasses on the ground. She said he continued punching and whipping the officer.

Defending, Mr Gregory Burke said Richards denied using the dog lead in a whipping motion but accepted the rest of the assault as described by the prosecution.

Richards was arrested on Thursday in Walsall. When police searched Richards' house they found blood stains and pills used in body building. Richards pleaded guilty to possessing a Class C drug.

He also pleaded guilty on Saturday to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Chairman of the bench Mr David Firman sent him to the city's crown court for sentencing. Richards was remanded in custody to appear in court on March 2.