Great Massingham man in King’s Lynn court after assaulting two police officers and wiping mucus-covered tissue on them

A 50-year-old kicked, scratched and elbowed police officers after being arrested – before wiping a mucus-covered tissue on them.

Karl Boeckeler, of Summerwood Estate in Great Massingham, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday after being charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

He had previously pleaded guilty to both offences, which he committed on April 22 this year. His case had been adjourned from June 1 in order for a pre-sentence report to be carried out by probation services.

On Thursday, crown prosecutor Stephen Munton told magistrates that police had been called to a property in East Rudham in relation to an another matter.

The complainant in the case introduced Boeckeler to officers when he arrived at the address, and he was originally compliant with them when being arrested.

However, he was drunk and his speech was slurred – and while being escorted to a police van at the end of the driveway, he “threw an elbow” in an attempt to strike an officer.

He proceeded to become more aggressive, and attempted to bite the arms of another officer. He was warned on multiple occasions to stop, and had to be taken to the ground.

However, this effort from police was short-lived, and he managed to kick out at one of them. They struggled to contain him, according to Mr Munton, and had to strap up his legs.

He continued to struggle and swear at officers while being taken to an investigation centre in Lynn, where a risk assessment was carried out.

At that point, Boeckeler had mucus dripping from his nose. He was handed a tissue by an officer – but having cleaned his face, he proceeded to try and smear the used handkerchief into that officer.

To compound matters, he then scratched the forearm of another officer.

Boeckeler had 18 previous convictions at the time of his appearance in court, with his latest being for another assault in January 2021.

In mitigation, Alison Muir said: “My client does acknowledge that these are serious offences – most unpleasant.

“He said he was ashamed and very remorseful for what he had done. It is clear from the (pre-sentence) report that alcohol is used to deal with various problems in his life.

“He has been at rock bottom.”

The solicitor told magistrates that Boeckeler last held a job down six years ago, and argued that handing him a community-based sentence requiring unpaid work may get him back into the right frame of mind to take up full-time employment again.

Magistrates heeded that advice, which was also given in the probation service’s report. Boeckeler was handed a 12-month community order for each of his assults, with those terms to run concurrently.

He will complete 100 hours of unpaid work, carry out 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days, and take part in a six-month community sentence treatment requirement scheme.

Boeckeler was also ordered to pay £100 in compensation to the police officer whose arm he bit, but was handed no legal costs because of his means.