Man admits drugs possession and officer assaults

A man has admitted drugs offences and assaulting a police officer following two incidents in Gosport.

On 24 April 2020, 31-year-old Matthew David Wagstaff was stopped by police along Forton Road. Following a search, officers located a bag of crack cocaine.

He was subsequently charged with possession of a class A drug, and he admitted this offence when he appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on Monday 1 February 2021.

In a separate incident on 30 January this year, officers making enquiries into drugs offences in Lees Lane spotted Wagstaff and approached him to speak to him. He ran from police before officers caught up with him as he hopped garden fences in Pelham Road.

Wagstaff grabbed an asp out of an officer’s hand before repeatedly striking another officer over the head with it, resulting in head injuries which required hospital treatment.

During this incident, Wagstaff was arrested and subsequently charged with offences.

Appearing at Portsmouth Crown Court on Monday 1 March this week, he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.

He also pleaded guilty to common assault of an emergency worker at the Magistrates hearing on 1 February.

Inspector Matt Wake said: “Assaults against our people will never be tolerated. It is not ‘simply part of the job’ and we will always take these extremely seriously.

“This was a violent attack on one of our officers, who needed treatment in hospital as a result. Fortunately he has recovered well and is back on duty, but the outcome could have been far more severe.”

Wagstaff, of no fixed abode, was bailed to appear at the same court on 16 April for sentencing.