Swadlincote man convicted of police snowball assault
Smith has criticised the cost of bringing the case to court
A man has been convicted of common assault for throwing a snowball at a police community support officer.
Dean Smith was shopping with his family in Swadlincote in December when the snowball hit Claire North.
He was given a 14-day curfew and told to pay £85 costs after admitting the charge at Derby Magistrates' Court.
The 31-year-old's solicitor said the case should never have been brought, but the prosecution argued that he had a grudge against the PCSO.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
Maybe if they spent a little less time taking people to court for throwing snowballs then they'd have a bit more money to spend”
End Quote Dean Smith
The snowball hit Ms North's police radio - which was on her chest - on the afternoon of 2 December, the court heard.
'Not trivial' Smith, of Swadlincote, was arrested several days afterwards, questioned and charged.
He and his solicitor Stephen Chittenden have both criticised the cost of bringing the case to court, arguing the matter should have been settled with a caution.
Smith described it as a "waste of money" at a time when police forces were making cutbacks.
"Maybe if they spent a little less time taking people to court for throwing snowballs then they'd have a bit more money to spend," he said.
He added: "I've spoken to police officers who've said, 'you'd get one back if you threw one at me'.
"I'll have to be careful when I'm picking my nose in future - I'll get done for littering if I flick it on the floor."