Emneth man threatened to smash window of police car after digger came to remove concrete outside his house

An Emneth man appeared in court after threatening to use a concrete block to smash a police car which appeared at his property.

Alan Stewart, 43, of Mill Road, appeared in Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he admitted using threatening words to cause alarm or distress and threatening to cause damage to a property.

Prosecutor Sally Harris said that on November 6, police went to Mill Road to assist with Norfolk Highways who were removing an “obstruction” in the road.

“Police had been to the location before and Highways were removing a pile of concrete which had solidified,” said Ms Harris.

Stewart returned to his home address, which officers were outside of and was “very angry”.

He began banging on the police car’s windows and was shouting and swearing before threatening to smash the car’s windows with a concrete block.

He raised the block up, but didn’t smash the windows. He was arrested shortly after.

Stewart was unrepresented in court, and voiced his concerns to magistrates that he had decided to repair the road himself.

“I contacted Highways, Norfolk County Council and West Norfolk Council and they refused to do it. I wanted to make it more accessible to my family and my neighbours,” said Stewart.

“I over-ordered on material and left it to the right of my gateway.”

He added: “When I came home, it was up in arms, a digger and the police were there.

“They don’t understand, they don’t live up there, I do. I never had the time to finish the job off.

“I was not obstructing any highway. The road is an embarrassment to the council, that is why I was upset. I have managed that road for three years. My behaviour was completely out of character.”

Magistrates fined Stewart a total of £582 for the offence, along with a victim surcharge of £233 and court costs of £145.

Presiding Justice Louise Barber said: “Police were there because they previously felt threatened by you.”