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Drunken teenager from Gravesend punched, kicked and jumped on vehicles in Cross Lane East and called a police officer a ‘spastic’

A drunken teenager started targeting vehicles by kicking out at them and jumping on their bonnets before calling a disabled police officer a “spastic”.

Charlie Appleford, from Gravesend, was 19 at the time and had been downing beers, shots and spirits during a boozing session with his mates.

Charlie Appleford admitted four offences when he appeared in court
Charlie Appleford admitted four offences when he appeared in court

He not only kicked someone’s wing mirror and damaged it, he also scratched the side door panel of a car and banged on and punched it.

In one instance in Cross Lane East, the drunken teen even tried to get into one frightened woman’s car as she made her way to work.

When police arrived at the scene in October last year, the now 20-year-old, then called one officer with a disability a “spastic” before he was arrested.

Appleford, of Hampton Crescent, Gravesend, was charged with two counts of criminal damage, common assault and threatening behaviour in relation to what he said to the officer.

He admitted all four offences when he appeared in court in March, when a pre-sentencing report was ordered, and he returned to Medway Magistrates’ Court on May 22 to hear his fate.

Appleford was sentenced at Medway Magistrates' Court. Photo: Stock
Appleford was sentenced at Medway Magistrates' Court. Photo: Stock

Gareth Johnson, prosecuting, said: “This incident happened on October 6, 2024, when the defendant and others were damaging vehicles by stopping them to do so.

“This was in Cross Lane East, in Gravesend, and he had been drinking and kicked out at a wing mirror of a car parked in the road and then punched the bonnet, but there was no damage (to the bonnet).

“He then climbed onto the bonnet and left sneaker footprints on it.

“A woman then drove her car along the road and he tried the door to get in, she was scared and drove off and he walked off.

“He then stopped another vehicle and tried to punch it and the window and driver.”

Mr Johnson then told the court that the police had been called and when officers arrived at the scene, Appleford approached the police officer and called him a “spastic”.

He then stopped another vehicle and tried to punch it and the window and driver

The prosecutor added: “The officer had dyspraxia, so felt aggrieved [by the derogatory comment], he has no previous convictions.”

Jeremy Betts, defending, said his client should have credit for his early guilty pleas.

He added: “He’s a young man and has left school early and lives with his father and grandparent.

“He’s the eldest of 10 and the other nine live with his mother, he’s got a lack of maturity.

“He will drink with friends every fortnight or so and would usually have five pints, but this time he had 10 pints and thinks that was the problem and why he got up to these things.

“He’s had no formal education but would like to work in the building trade.”

When police arrived at the scene, Charlie Appleford called one officer a "spastic". Stock image
When police arrived at the scene, Charlie Appleford called one officer a "spastic". Stock image

A probation officer also told magistrates Appleford had also mixed shots and spirits into his drinking habits that night and that he now realised what he did was anti-social behaviour.

The officer added: “He’s really sorry and is no longer drinking. He wants to get his CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card to learn the trade.”

Magistrates said they had listened to everything that had been said during the hearing, but were not impressed by Appleford’s behaviour.

The chairman of the bench added: “This was despicable behaviour, you are a young man and you were drunk and it seems you can’t handle it.

“You think you can do anything, but the distress this caused to others, especially the lady. Can you imagine (how she felt)? It’s very distressing.”

The bench decided to place Appleford on a 12-month community order, which will see him wear an alcohol abstinence tag for 120 days and carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

He must also attend 20 rehabilitation sessions and magistrates said, if the victims were willing, Appleford should write a letter of apology to the victims of his crimes.

Appleford was also ordered to pay the officer £150 in compensation.

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