Dagenham man who ‘fly kicked’ police officer given suspended sentence

Jonathan Daley, of Bradwell Avenue was given a suspended sentence (credit: Met Police)

A man from Dagenham who took a flying kick at a police officer during a protest has been handed a suspended sentence.

Jonathan Daley, of Bradwell Avenue sent an officer to the ground during a demonstration on Whitehall, near Derby Gate on Wednesday, 3 June last year.

The 27-year-old appeared at the London Inner Crown Court on Thursday, 29 July after admitting a charge of violent disorder during an earlier hearing.

The situation last year evolved after a group of approximately 250 protesters became hostile to a TV film crew.

Police moved in to help resulting in some protestors throwing items at officers.

Daley ran up behind one officer who had their back turned and attempted to kick him, narrowly missing.

CCTV footage then captured Daley running ahead of police officers and hiding behind railings, looking to ambush them.

As one officer passes, Daley lunges out, takes a flying kick which hits his upper-thigh sending the officer to the ground.

Daley runs off and was then seen on social media celebrating and cheering with the crowd after.

Daley was handed a 20 month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to undertake 100 hours unpaid work.

He will attend a probation and credited programme for 30 days and pay a victim surcharge of £200.

Detective Constable Steve Nicholls from the Met’s Public Order Crime Team, said: “It is sickening to see someone treat a police officer with such thuggish behaviour.

“Despite being outnumbered, those officers were trying to help a TV film crew who were being subjected to scenes of violence and hostility.

“It is deeply worrying to see a crowd of people become so aggressive to police officers.

“Thanks to the excellent CCTV footage on Whitehall, which captured the assault in its entirety, we were able to identify Daley swiftly and arrest him later that day in Parliament Square.

“Daley has been spared jail on this occasion, but if he offends again he can be sure to spend many nights behind bars.”

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