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Gloucestershire Business News

Gloucester man violently attacked two policemen during arrest

A Gloucester man who violently attacked two policemen as they arrested him for assaulting his partner on Christmas Day was told by a judge on Thursday (January 20) that if he had behaved so badly in other countries he would have been seriously injured by the officers - or even shot.

Judge Ian Lawrie QC told Luke Goodhall, 34, he was 'fortunate' to be dealing with British police officers rather than somewhere abroad where he would have been dealt with far more roughly.

And the judge said he fears that unless Goodall gets his drink problem under control he will end up killing somebody one day.

Sitting at Gloucester Crown Court, the judge heard that police were called on December 25, 2021, after Goodhall, who had been drinking and using cannabis since 7am, threw an olive oil bottle at his partner, gashing her head and causing a wound that bled profusely and needed five staples.

When they returned from hospital that night he again became aggressive, shouting he would kill her, and she called the police, said prosecutor Joseph Broadway.

He said PCs Stuart Clarke and Ryan Williams arrived at the woman's Gloucester home and Goodhall became aggressive and abusive to them as they tried to arrest and restrain him.

He began lashing out, kicking at them, and he hit them three or four times in the chest and arms before they were able to get him into their van.

Mr Broadway said the officers suffered bruised arms and legs but felt they would have had worse injuries if they had they not been wearing body armour.

Judge Lawrie watched police body cam video of the incident, during which Goodhall could be heard swearing and shouting. The officers repeatedly ordered him to stop kicking and warned they would use gas spray if he did not desist. He shouted repeatedly at them not to use the spray.

The judge said: "He was so drunk he was frothing at the mouth."

He told Goodhall "You are fortunate you were being handled by Gloucestershire Constabulary, or any other officers from this country, because there are some countries in the world where if you did that you would be seriously injured. Probably in America you would be shot!"

Goodhall, a barber's apprentice, of Ryecroft Street, Gloucester, admitted assaulting the two officers and assaulting his partner causing actual bodily harm on December 25.

He was sentenced to a 20-month jail sentence, suspended for two years and ordered to undergo a probation programme requirement of 30 sessions.

The judge also imposed a six-month alcohol treatment requirement on Goodhall and ordered him to attend court on March 17 for a review of his progress.

Goodhall was ordered to pay the two officers compensation of £100 each and a victim services surcharge of £156.

The judge said: "You have escaped custody by the skin of your teeth."

"Your difficulty is that when you get near alcohol you are out of control and one day you are going to end up killing somebody. That we need to avoid, for your sake as well as for members of the public."

Ieuan Callaghan, defending, had told the judge that Goodhall, who had a 'non-stop' record of previous convictions dating back to his teens and had been disowned by his family when he was 11.

The barrister said: "An addiction to alcohol and anger management problems have plagued him throughout his life."

Mr Callaghan added that even though Goodhall has been in custody on remand since his Christmas Day arrest, his job as a barber's apprentice is still open to him.

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