Policeman Headbutted During Surprise Raid

Police Raid: St. Crispin House

A young man whose flat was raided during a surprise police swoop headbutted one of the officers after “thrashing around on the bed” during his arrest, a court heard.

Alexander Mireles, 25, of St. Crispin House, Barclay Road, Croydon walked free after being sentenced to time already served behind bars.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting PC Vivash at his home on December 4, last year.

Mireles remained in custody until December 17 when he was served with a notice of discontinuance on the more serious charges he was facing, which were the subject of the police raid.

At Croydon Crown Court today he was sentenced to ten days imprisonment, which he has already served and will remain under probation supervision for twelve months.

Prosecutor Mr Alex Slater told the court three officers executed a search warrant at Mireles' flat and he tried to throw a mobile phone out of the window.

Police used force to restrain him, but Mireles still lashed out.

“While they were applying handcuffs the defendant pulled his head back and butted PC Vivash on the head.”

Mireles continued to resist and was escorted to a waiting police van.

The injured officer was left with a red mark to the right side of his head.

The first-time offender's lawyer James Warren told the court: “He was taken by surprise when the police turned up at that early time they did.”

The graduate is now supported by his parents, having endured the ordeal of his time in custody.

“That was quite a terrifying experience. He had never been in custody except for the police station,” added Mr Warren.

The judge told Mireles: “In the course of the police properly trying to arrest you, you assaulted an officer by butting his head.”