Derek Joseph Woods spared jail after assaulting police officers in Katanning

A Katanning man has avoided an immediate prison term after assaulting two police officers who had been called to his home. Derek Joseph Woods, 19, was sentenced at Katanning Magistrates Court on April 5 after pleading guilty to four offences, including two counts of assaulting a public officer and one count of obstructing a public officer. Police prosecutor Sgt David Loverock told the court police were called to a Katanning home just before 12.30pm on February 7 by a member of the public. When officers arrived, Woods started acting aggressively towards them, at one point picking up a ceramic bowl. When he was arrested over another matter, he resisted, headbutting one of the officers. The officer, a constable, was taken to Katanning Hospital for assessment. Sgt Loverock said Woods continued resisting arrest as he was led to a police vehicle, swinging his body and struggling to break free. More police were called to the scene to help restrain him. When one of the officers opened the side door of the vehicle in an attempt to get Woods inside, he tried to escape. It was during the resulting struggle that Woods started kicking officers, breaking a sergeant’s finger. Woods’ defence lawyer told the court his client accepted that he should have not resisted arrest, but his fear had triggered a flight or fight response. Coming from a troubled background, he admitted he had issues with alcohol, his temper and authority. In her sentencing remarks, Magistrate Dianne Scaddan said the police officers were just “doing their job”. “You may have a dislike for the police and you might not like why they have been called . . . (but) you took it from zero to 100 immediately and you put yourself in the position you are today,” she said. “Police accept that there is a bit of rough and tumble in their job. However, police don’t deserve to be headbutted and have their finger broken.” Woods received a seven-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.