Thug jailed after punching police officer at Kettering snooker club

A thug has been jailed for punching a police officer at a Kettering snooker club just months after being given a last chance.

Simon Rock was spared from prison in November after trashing cars in Northampton, kicking off mirrors, snapping window wipers and causing dents and scratches.

The 29-year-old, of Kingsley Avenue in Kettering, was warned he needed to stay out of trouble for 18 months to avoid a spell behind bars.

But just four months later he was arrested again for yet more violence.

Police were called to Kettering’s Windmill Club in Edmund Street at about 6.30pm on March 25 where he was being chucked out.

Rock then punched one officer, PC Lee Wood, before elbowing PC Holly Campbell and throwing himself backwards, falling on top of her.

This month Rock pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting an emergency worker by beating.

He was jailed for a total of 18 weeks at Northampton Magistrates’ Court, with JPs highlighting his record of offending and failure to respond to previous non-custodial sentences.

A Northamptonshire Police spokeswoman said: “Our police officers do not come to work to be assaulted and it is never and should never be seen as ‘a part of the job’.

“Northamptonshire Police will always pursue action against those people who injure or attack any of our officers.”

Magistrates also ordered Rock to pay £100 in compensation to each of the officers he assaulted at the Windmill Club.