Maidstone man convicted within 24 hours of attempts to spit at and assault officers

A Maidstone resident has been convicted less than 24 hours after he tried to spit at, punch and headbutt police officers.

At around 12.10am on Sunday 5 November 2023, Kent Police was called to a disturbance at a residential address in Peel Street.

Officers attended and arrested Philip Weeks at the scene. As he was being detained, Weeks lunged at the constables with a clenched fist and attempted a headbutt.

He also made threats to an officer by spitting in their direction and claiming he had a transmittable disease. 

The 42-year-old required treatment at Maidstone Hospital, where he carried out a further assault by kicking a female police officer.

Guilty pleas

On Monday 6 November, Weeks appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to three counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

He was granted bail and will be sentenced at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on 16 January 2024.

District Commander for Maidstone, Chief Inspector Mark McLellan, said: ‘Weeks' behaviour was utterly abhorrent. Every day our constables are required to attend unpredictable, challenging and sometimes volatile situations. 'However, like any other job, officers should be able to perform their roles without being the subject of such disgusting and potentially dangerous actions.
‘Any assaults on police officers and staff are completely unacceptable and we will not hesitate to prosecute those who put their safety and the safety of other emergency workers at risk in this way.’