Reparation and supervision for Whanganui man who headbutted a police officer while "grossly intoxicated"

A police officer was headbutted by a grossly intoxicated Damian Darcy Sollitt while in the line of duty. Photo / Bevan Conley

A man became too intoxicated at a local bar and the night ended with him headbutting a police officer.

Damian Darcy Sollitt was asked to leave Stellar Restaurant & Bar on Taupo Quay about 1.30am on Sunday, September 23, but refused to do so.

Sollitt appeared in Whanganui District Court on Tuesday, where police prosecutor Stephen Butler explained the offending.

"He was grossly intoxicated and he was escorted from the premises by security. He was asked to leave, but he refused and stayed in the doorway arguing," Butler said.

"When spoken to by police, the defendant refused to leave the area, stating 'it's a public place, you can't make me leave'."

Sollitt was shouting and acting belligerently, so police handcuffed him and arrested him.

"The defendant was moved to a nearby patrol vehicle and asked to sit in it, but he started forcing against police, pushing them into the car," Butler continued.

"A police officer took hold of the defendant's handcuffs and pulled him into the backseat. The defendant quickly pulled his head back and headbutted the officer.

"The force of the headbutt forced swelling and the victim suffered a prolonged headache as a result."

Defence counsel for Sollitt, Roger Crowley, said it had been an expensive night for his client in a variety of ways.

"We have a man who should know better out on the town late at night who has drunk far too much alcohol and is behaving poorly," Crowley said.

"He is contrite, he is ashamed and he is remorseful. What he needs is to be told by your honour to grow up and pull his head in."

Judge Dugald Matheson said that Sollitt needed more than that as he had convictions for alcohol-related offending in 1997, 2009 and 2011.

"Behaviour in the public arena such as this does you no credit. Police are entitled to feel that they've had a gutsful of this type of behaviour," the Judge said.

"You've got a problem and you're going to get it sorted and I'm ordering you to do that."

Judge Matheson sentenced Sollitt to nine months' supervision and ordered him to pay $400 emotional harm reparation to the officer.