A MAN who assaulted an officer during a protest in Epping on Friday night has been sentenced.

Jimmy Hillard was among a group of people who turned up outside The Bell Hotel on Friday (29 August).
Hillard assaulted two officers after refusing to move away from a cordon set up by officers at the scene at around 9.20pm.

He then pushed one officer causing them to fall to the ground and kicked another.

The 52 year-old, of Chequers Road, Loughton, was charged with assaulting an emergency worker.

He admitted the charge at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court today (Monday 1 September) and was given a suspended eight week jail sentence.

Assistant chief constable Stuart Hooper said: “Assaulting an officer can never be tolerated and can never be acceptable.

“On Friday, as we have done each and every week since the middle of July, we put plans in place to ensure people could exercise their democratic right protest peacefully and lawfully.

“The officers in Epping on Friday night engaged with those who attended throughout the evening, explaining what was happening, what orders had been put in place and why, and what this meant for them.

“Sadly, Jimmy Hillard took exception to this engagement and assaulted two of our officers.

“We will always work with people who want to protest peacefully and lawfully to ensure they can do this but we will also always take action against those who commit violence.”