A BASINGSTOKE man has been sent to prison for assaulting an emergency worker.

Barry Thomas, of Tortuga Walk, in Popley, who pleaded not guilty to the offence of assault by beating of an emergency worker, was sent to prison for six weeks after he assaulted a hospital security guard in Basingstoke on September 8, 2022.

The 57-year-old’s case was heard at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court, where magistrates found him guilty in his absence after he failed to turn up to the hearing.

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He was sentenced on July 18 to six weeks in prison due to the aggravated nature of the victim being an emergency worker.

Thomas was also ordered to pay compensation of £50 and given an additional six-week prison sentence to run concurrently because the offence was committed during a suspended sentence for another offence relating to public order acts.

Magistrates said the defendant had a “flagrant disregard for people and their property”, adding: “The offence(s) are so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified.”

No order for costs was made because the compensation took priority.