A JUDGE told a middle-aged Workington man whose 'wild' behaviour led to him being tasered by police officers: “Frankly, you’re too old to be here at  crown court.”

Raymond Stephenson, 46, admitted two police assaults.

At Carlisle Crown Court, a prosecution barrister outlined how it was the defendant himself who initially called the police on the evening of July 10, telling them there was a “disturbance” at a property in Barncroft Avenue, Seaton

“The officers arrived and found him in an agitated state in his garden,” said the prosecutor. “Initially, he was holding a hammer.”

When he saw the two police officers who were sent to the scene, Stephenson walked towards them aggressively, with his fists clenched and raised.

“The police reaction to that was to taser him,” said the barrister.

The defendant’s sister interposed herself between Stephenson and the two officers. But Stephenson, who was tasered twice, simply removed the taser barbs from his body and continued to “bounce around on his toes.”

“He then ran at them and he was thrown off balance by one of the officers," continued the prosecutor.

Fearing for their safety, one officer ran at Stephenson, punching him “as hard as he could,” causing a cut above his eye.

Unlike the taser, this ended Stephenson's aggressive behaviour, allowing the officers to overpower him.

They then took him to hospital to be checked over.

The assaults charges were brought on the basis that Stephenson made the officers fear violence.

The court heard that the defendant, who lives in Barncroft Avenue, has 25 previous offences on his record dating back to 1996.

They include public order offences, resisting a constable, and causing criminal damage as well as non-dwelling burglaries.

Isabella Denn-White, defending, said the defendant had not been in trouble for six years and that his bad behaviour on July 10 did not last for a long time. “Mr Stephenson has said there was a lot going on,” said the barrister.

She added that he was “extremely remorseful.”

Judge Nicholas Barker noted that Stephenson had pretty much given up offending but on the night in question he had drank too much. “You had some problems but this is not the way to sort them out,” said the judge.

“You were in a wild and agitated state.” One officer felt it was necessary to “charge into” and punch Stephenson to bring him under control. But the judge accepted Stephenson’s remorse was genuine and he was already addressing his behaviour.

He imposed a 12-month community order, with five rehabilitation activity days, and a two month electronically monitored curfew, lasting each day from 7pm to 6am.

A third charge, alleging that Stephenson carried an offensive weapon during the incident – namely a lump hammer – was not proceeded with.