Main jailed for abusing and threatening council worker

A man who refused to pay a fine to an enforcement officer who watched him discard a cigarette in Newcastle has been jailed for abusing and threatening the city council employee.

Northumberland Street

28-year-old Michael Luke, of Dunholme Road, Newcastle, was witnessed by a Newcastle City Council enforcement officer as he threw his lit cigarette on the floor outside the entrance of Eldon Square shopping centre on Northumberland Street.

The officers on duty on March 23 2019 approached Luke as he left the cigarette on the ground. When challenged, however, he refused to provide any of his details to officers.

He then proceeded to walk through the shopping centre, out onto Blackett Street and up to Barrack Road with the enforcement officers following him.

Along the way, he repeatedly turned to make threats of physical violence towards one of the officers.

As a result, the police were called assist and Newcastle City Council began prosecution proceedings.

At North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday July 30 he was handed a four-week prison sentence.

He was also ordered to pay £154.50 investigation costs and £105 legal costs.

Cllr Clare Penny-Evans, Newcastle City Council’s cabinet member for communities, said: “Threatening and abusive behaviour towards any of our staff will not be tolerated and this is shown by today’s outcome in court.

“This individual committed an offence and our enforcement officers rightly went about their duties by attempting to deal with the issue by way of a fixed penalty notice.

“These notices are issued as a quick and effective way of dealing with low-level environmental and community protection offences for the benefit of everyone and it is entirely unacceptable to respond in the manner seen here.”

For more information on the issuing of fixed penalty notices, visit /www.newcastle.gov.uk/services/environment-recycling-and-waste/fixed-pen…