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Sheerness man was so out of it on booze and drugs he couldn’t remember attacking police officers

14:00, 15 September 2024

A drunk who had been on a cocaine and booze binge couldn’t remember what crimes he had committed and could only recall waking up in a police cell.

Darren Cattell had been on a days-long bender in Sheerness when he came to the attention of police after being found with a blade.

Darren Cattell had been on an alcohol and drug-fuelled session in Sheerness for several days when he came to the attention of the police after being found with a knife
Darren Cattell had been on an alcohol and drug-fuelled session in Sheerness for several days when he came to the attention of the police after being found with a knife

The 41-year-old was arrested in Royal Road on June 22 when officers found him with a silver kitchen knife, but as he was apprehended, he assaulted two officers.

The High Street resident was later charged with possession of a bladed article and two counts of assault on an emergency worker.

He had originally pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared in court on July 18 and the cases against him were adjourned.

However, when he appeared before Maidstone magistrates on September 9, he changed his plea to guilty on all three charges.

The bench heard he now wanted help with his drink problem and his solicitor Niall Doherty said he was going to request an adjournment in the hope his client could talk to probation officers about his problem.

Darren Cattell was so out of it on drink and drugs he couldn't remember what crimes he had committed
Darren Cattell was so out of it on drink and drugs he couldn't remember what crimes he had committed

He also wanted to get a pre-sentencing report completed on his client in the hope it would lead to him getting the help he needed to come off the booze.

Mr Doherty revealed Cattell gets so drunk he has no recollection of what he does.

He said: “He also takes cocaine and tells me he had been on a several-day bender with alcohol and cocaine and remembers having a few pints and then some shots and then he blacks out.

“He’s got an alcohol problem and has been [previously sentenced to] unpaid work for being drunk and disorderly and a punitive element could be a fine [on this occasion], but he needs help with it.

“He woke up in the police cell and had no recollection of what happened, it’s a continuing pattern, I would ask for an adjournment for six weeks so he can have a pre-sentencing report completed.

Maidstone Magistrates' Court
Maidstone Magistrates' Court

Prosecutor Rajni Prashar told magistrates she had no objection to the adjournment or the pre-sentencing report being carried out.

Magistrates agreed to the request but told Cattell he had a poor record and the offences were serious.

The Islander was granted bail until he is sentenced at Medway Magistrates’ Court on November 7.

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