A man has been sentenced after he hit an Environment Agency Fisheries Enforcement Officer across the face with a fishing rod during patrols in Greater Manchester.
Thomas Hodkinson, 24, from Queens Park Road in Heywood, Rochdale, appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on 7 January, where he pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and fishing without an Environment Agency fishing licence, News Cover reports, citing the UK government.
Environment Agency Fisheries Enforcement Officers are deemed to be constables for the purposes of enforcing fisheries legislation and are protected under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018.
The court heard that the officer was struck across the face with a broken rod during fisheries patrols at Pilsworth Fishery, near Bury in Greater Manchester, on 28 August 2024.
He was ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work in the community, to pay compensation of £100 and costs of £300.
