Man punches and racially abuses roadworkers

Road workers frequently have to deal with verbal abuse, which is unacceptable, said Ch Insp Andy Watkins

A man who punched a road worker, racially abused another and attacked police has pleaded guilty to eight charges.

Kieron Wright, 32, of Fonnereau Road, Ipswich, bit, spat and kicked at officers while being arrested following the assault at the Handford Road roadworks on 8 October.

It was the second time in a day that road workers there had faced "unprovoked violence or unnecessary risks", said Ch Insp Andy Watkins.

Wright appeared at Ipswich Magistrates' Court on 9 October. He will be sentenced at the same court on 7 November.

"Road workers frequently have to deal with verbal abuse, which is unacceptable, but being punched, subjected to racial abuse and having to jump out of the way of cars is taking things to another level," said Ch Insp Watkins.

Officers were called at 01:55 BST to reports that a roadworker had been hit and discovered Wright in Yarmouth Road shortly afterwards.

He assaulted four officers, including biting and spitting at them, kicking one in the groin and twisting an arm. The officer who was bitten needed hospital treatment.

Wright then spat at another officer while being transported to custody and kicked a sixth officer at Martlesham Police Investigation Centre.

He pleaded guilty to six counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker; one count of assault by beating; and one count of using racially aggravated or abusive words with intent to cause harassment, alarm, or distress.

It came after police were called to a separate roadworks incident at 00:15 on 7 October. A driver drove through the road closure at Handford Road, causing road workers to jump out of the way.

The driver was reported for careless driving.

Ch Insp Watkins described two incidents on the same stretch of road on successive nights as "very alarming".

"For six officers to be assaulted by one individual in the course of one incident is a particularly extreme case," he added.

Paul Feuer, project manager at Tarmac, thanked officers and added: "Abuse of road workers is at an all-time high and will not be tolerated."