News

Squaddies in dock over attack on cop

By Tim Harris
December 29, 2011

THREE Aldershot soldiers assaulted a policeman outside a busy town centre bar, a court has heard.

Samuel Barsby, 21, Jimmy Eaton, 20, and Christopher Walker, 21, who all live at New Mons Barracks, in Aldershot, admitted charges of assault on PC Copley, outside a bar in Aldershot.

Barsby appeared in Aldershot Magistrates Court, charged with common assault and using threatening words and behaviour. Eaton and Walker were both charged with assault with intent to resist arrest.

They admitted the charges, relating to the incident on December 6, when they appeared in court on December 22.

The three men, who are soldiers in the Irish Guard regiment of the army, assaulted PC Copley after they had been drinking, the court heard.

Ghislaine Watson-Hopkinson, prosecuting, told the court how the three men had been to a regimental Christmas party.

The men chose to go into Aldershot town centre, despite having already consumed alcohol.

Miss Watson-Hopkinson described how after drinking in Yates's bar, on Victoria Road, Barsby became quite drunk and was ejected from the venue.

Barsby had an argument with one of the door staff, while Eaton stood between them trying to calm the situation down.

Miss Watson-Hopkinson said: “PC Copley approached and started to walk him [Barsby] backwards, away from the door of Yates's. He [Barsby] then squared up to the officer and tried to strike him.”

The court was then told how PC Copley had produced his spray to try and calm things down, and Barsby hit the officer twice.

The court heard how Eaton and Walker together forced PC Copley to release Barsby, who was able to run away.

The incident was caught on CCTV.

When interviewed, Barsby admitted drinking heavily, and said he had no recollection of the night. When shown the CCTV images, he accepted his involvement, and said he was sorry.

Eaton admitted assisting Barsby's escape, but Walker declined to comment.

Fiona Taylor, defending, said: “All three men have taken full responsibility for their actions in this incident. All three men are extremely remorseful."

The defendants have seen active service together recently, in Kenya and Afghanistan.

Ms Taylor described how the mind-set of the three men is to protect each other if they perceive their comrades to be in trouble.

Court chairman Candice Burnyeat ordered Barsby to complete a 12-month community order of 85 hours unpaid work.

Barsby was also told to pay £80 for the cost of the case, and £100 compensation to PC Copley.

Mrs Burnyeat ordered Eaton and Walker to complete 75 hours unpaid work each.

They were also ordered to pay £80 each towards the cost of the case, and £50 compensation each to PC Copley.

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the pubs open for too long, its all about money, fill um up and kick um out.

clamicil per-inger
30/12/2011 at 12:37

I wonder if Aldershot News could use the Freedom of Information act to find out the number of drunks ejected in 2011 into Victoria Road by, in no particular order, The Queen Victoria, The Goose and Yates.

Perhaps you could also ask what percentage of chargeable offences in the centre of Aldershot emanate in or from these three hostelries.

Retired of Aldershot, Aldershot
30/12/2011 at 11:07

So Fiona Taylor defends their actions by using the excuse that they've seen active service. If that's the case, why isn't the whole of the British Army causing carnage when they return? Because they are trained to behave.