A SOUTH Craven man who threw an antique anvil at police officers while resisting arrest in Eastburn has been ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work by Skipton magistrates.

William Hutchinson, 24, failed to hit the officers with the anvil in the early hours of June 1, last year, but did punch one of them in the face before running off and hiding behind a car, the court heard on Friday.

Hutchinson, who denied assaulting PC Rich Harrod in the execution of his duty, and resisting PC Andrew Middlemiss, was found guilty after trial at the Skipton court earlier this month.

He also admitted at the time being in breach of a conditional discharge imposed by the court in January for criminal damage.

The court heard today (Friday) that police had been searching for Hutchinson after receiving reports of a domestic incident and had come across him near to Eastburn Industrial Estate.

During the trial earlier this month, both PC Middlemiss and PC Harrod gave evidence of the ‘fast moving’ incident which had also included the officers preparing to use their Tasers on Hutchinson.

PC Middlemiss described how Hutchinson had been in drink, had appeared agitated and how he had ordered him to drop the metal object, later described by Hutchinson as an ‘antique anvil’. He had pointed his Taser at Hutchinson, and Hutchinson had thrown the anvil towards PC Harrod. It missed, but a punch had connected with PC Harrod, after which Hutchinson had run off down a snicket.

Hutchinson was later found hiding between a parked car and a wall, and was arrested.

PC Harrod, the court was told on Friday, suffered soreness and reddening to one of his cheek bones as a result of being hit by Hutchinson.

On Friday, Hutchinson, of Collinge Road, Cowling, was given a 12 month community order with 200 hours unpaid work and up to 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He will also have to pay full costs of £620, a surcharge of £85 and compensation of £100 to PC Harrod.