AN EX-SOLDIER assaulted three police officers, biting one so hard that he drew blood, as he was being arrested for beating up another young man over some missing cannabis.
And at Warwick Crown Court, former Fusilier Myles Lekarla, of Stonehouse Close, Leamington, was jailed for a total of two years.
The 21-year-old had pleaded guilty to two charges of assault causing actual bodily harm, two of assaulting emergency workers and two of causing criminal damage.
Prosecutor Paul Fairley said in February a man went to see friends at an address in Ashton Court, Leamington, and later fell asleep.
He was woken by shouting, mainly from Lekarla who was accusing people of stealing his cannabis.
When the man said he did not know what he was talking about, Lekarla punched him to the face. The man then left the flat to go to home, but was pursued by Lekarla who followed him inside, where he again punched him to the face a number of times.
As a result of the attack, the man was left with a badly bruised and swollen left eye and jaw.
But not content with that, before leaving Lerkarla destroyed his television by kicking the screen.
When he got back to the flat in Ashton Court, he kicked his way through the front door, causing more than £1,000 worth of damage, and continued to argue with the remaining occupants.
The police had been called because of the earlier disturbance, and when officers arrived Lekarla was still acting aggressively, so it was decided to arrest him.
But as they tried to handcuff him, he flailed around, hitting one of the officers with the handcuffs, so was pushed down onto a bed as they tried to restrain him.
Lekarla repeatedly kicked out, striking one officer to the legs a number of times, and he pushed a female officer to the floor before stamping on her legs and torso.
When another male officer tried to assist his colleagues he was also kicked by Lekarla who bit him to the thumb, drawing blood, as he was being restrained.
During his struggle with the three officers, Lekarla had also tried to take hold of one of their Tasers but had been unable to get it out of its holster, said Mr Fairley.
The court heard Lekarla had previous convictions which included threatening behaviour in 2018 and assaulting an emergency worker last year.
Syed Ahmed, defending, said up until February of this year Lekarla had been a mortarman in the Fusiliers where ‘he experienced a lot of death and his mental health was affected.’
Mr Ahmed explained: “He joined at 18 in 2018, and during his time in the Army there was a lot of death, all as a result of suicides – the suicides of his sergeant, corporal and five of his close friends.
“Since February he has been paying privately, seeking the help of mental health services.”
Of the offences, Mr Ahmed added: “He has shown remorse and has asked me to convey his deepest apology. He said he did not recall the events due to the level of intoxication.”
Judge Peter Cooke told him straight away: “You’re going to prison.”
Of the attack on Mr Owen, the judge said: “You made quite a mess of that young man’s face. I’ve seen the photographs, and it is a bad case of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. This was a persistent attack.
“You then demonstrated violence towards the officers who were trying to restrain you. ”
