They are the frontline workers who have kept us safe during the pandemic - yet some people assault and abuse our police, NHS staff and other emergency workers.

These are the people from Kent who have been in court in April and convicted of assaulting an emergency worker - out of the eight people listed, none were sent to prison.

Michael Dennis Williams, 39, of Sinkin Close, Hawkinge, Folkestone, found himself appearing before magistrates in Hastings after assaulting a police officer in Pevensey Bay, East Sussex, in September last year.

Williams assaulted PC Christopher Franklin-Lester and admitted assaulting an emergency worker when he appeared in the dock on Wednesday, April 14.

Magistrates fined him £120 and ordered he pay a victim surcharge of £34 and £85 court costs and magistrates will apply for his repayments of £20 a month, to be deducted from his benefit payments.

While in the dock, Williams also admitted being in possession of 13 grams of cocaine on the same day in East Sussex, but received no separate penalty for the offence, but magistrates ordered the cocaine be destroyed.

Sean Barry Mabb, 20, of La Scierie Apartments, Victoria Crescent, Ashford, appeared before magistrates in Folkestone, on Friday, April 16.

Mabb had been charged with common assault on an emergency worker, in Kent and pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared in the dock.

The court heard Mabb assaulted PC Packman in January this year.

He has also been charged with obstructing PC Packman on the same day, but that charge was withdrawn while he appeared in court.

Magistrates fined him £133 for assaulting the officer and Mabb was also ordered to pay a £34 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

Mabb with pay what he owes to the court at a rate of £50 a fortnight.

Aragorn Dudley, 27, of Bloomsbury Way, Kennington, Ashford, appeared before magistrates in Folkestone, on Wednesday, April 14.

The court heard Dudley had been charged with common assault on an emergency worker in Ashford.

He assaulted PC Frost on March 15, and admitted the offence when he was in the dock.

Dudley also admitted three other charges of assault by beating an emergency worker, namely PC Sam Dry, PC Lauren McNeil and PC Bryony Evans in Ashford on the same day.

He also admitted a charge of using threatening behaviour on the same day, when he appeared in the dock.

Magistrates jailed Dudley for 120 days but suspended the term for 12 months, he was also ordered to complete a rehabilitation activity requirement with probation for 10 days and carry out 120 hours' of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay the officers £100 compensation each and a victim surcharge of £128.

He will repay what he owes the court at a rate of £50 a month.

Ben Foad, 18, of High Street, Herne Bay, appeared at Folkestone Magistrates Court on Monday, April 12, after being charged with assault by beating an emergency worker.

The court heard how Foad had assaulted acting Police Sgt, Ashley Harmen in Dover in September last year.

He had previously denied the offence, but later changed his plea to guilty.

While in the dock he also admitted a charge of threatening behaviour on the same day in Dover.

Magistrates made a youth rehabilitation order which will see him take part in a maturity intervention programme with the youth offending team for six days and he will also have to attend appointments with the offending team.

He was also ordered to pay the officers £25 compensation, a victim surcharge of £22 and £85 court costs and will repay the court at a rate of £20 a month.

Rachel Matthews, 42, of Albany Road, Chatham, found herself appearing before magistrates in Medway on Friday, April 16, after being charged with two counts of assault by beating an emergency worker.

The court heard Matthews assaulted PC Dolan and PC Chapman in Chatham in October last year.

She admitted both offences when she appeared in the dock.

Magistrates placed her on a 12 month community order which will see her complete an alcohol treatment requirement for three months, she was also placed under curfew for three months and must remain inside her home from 6pm to 6am each day.

Matthews was also ordered to pay each officer £100 compensation, a victim surcharge of £95 and £85 court costs.

She will repay what she owes to the court at a rate of £20 a month.

Sian Cook, 34, of Wrangleden Road, Maidstone, appeared before magistrates in Medway on Monday, April 12, after being charged with three offences.

The court heard Cook had been charged with two counts of assault by beating an emergency worker and also a charge of failing to surrender to custody.

Cook admitted all three offences when she appeared in the dock and the bench heard she assaulted PC Stopher and Detention Officer Hill, in Maidstone in March.

The court also heard she had failed to surrender to custody at Maidstone Magistrates' Court for a hearing on April 6.

Magistrates placed her on a 12 month community order which will involved her being placed under curfew for six weeks.

During that time she must remain inside her home during the hours of 7pm and 7am each day.

Cook must also complete a rehabilitation activity requirement with probation for 20 days.

She was also ordered to pay the officers £50 compensation each and will repay what she owes at a rate of £5 a week.

Ryan Zuczok, of Mount Road, Chatham, appeared before magistrates in Medway on Wednesday, April 7, to be sentenced over three matters, after admitting the charges at an earlier hearing.

The court heard how Zuczok assaulted two emergency workers, namely two police officers in Rochester in December.

He was charged with common assault on PC Walden and PC Lawrie.

Zuczok had also admitted a charge of criminal damage in relation to damaging some doors in Rochester on the same day which belonged to a woman.

Magistrates placed him on a 18 month community order which will involve him completing an alcohol treatment requirement for six months.

The order will also see him placed under curfew for four months and he must remain inside his home from 7pm to 7am each day.

He must also complete a rehabilitation activity requirement with probation for 50 days.

Zuczok was also ordered to pay each officer £100 compensation and must pay the woman £500 compensation for the damage to her doors. A restraining order was also made for a year preventing him from contacting her.

He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs.

Terry David Beaton, 26, of Dale View, Slade Green, appeared before magistrates in Maidstone, on Tuesday April 13, after being charged with several offences.

The court heard how Beaton was charged with assault by beating on an emergency worker, after an incident in Greenhithe in March.

He admitted assaulting PC Walker in the town and a common assault on a woman which happened in December in the same town.

Beaton also admitted harassing the same woman in March this year by sending her WhatsApp messages and getting into her home without her knowledge and sitting in her loft.

He also admitted two counts of criminal damage in relation to damaging a wooden rocking horse to the value of £40 and a police cell van to the value of £80 in March.

Magistrates placed him on an 18 month community order which will see him complete an alcohol abstinence requirement for a period of 120 days, he must also complete a rehabilitation activity requirement with probation for 12 days and carry out 120 hours' unpaid work within 12 months. He will also be monitored during this time by an electronic tag.

He was also ordered to pay £40 compensation for the damage to the rocking horse and £100 compensation to PC Walker.

A restraining order was also put on him to not contact or go near the woman he assaulted and harassed.

Beaton will repay what he owes the court at a rate of £10 a fortnight.

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

For information on how we can report on court proceedings, click here.

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