MARTIAL ARTISTS USED HIS SKILLS TO RESIST ARREST...

A COURT heard how a martial artist used his skills to resist arrest at his home.

Daniel Downey, 66, a doctor of Psychology, was said to have abandoned his car after getting drunk following an assault on him.

He was drowning his sorrows after he had to forego a training weekend after he was attacked in a hotel by a couple in Wolverhampton.

Returning to Cambridge to get drunk, he had later got into his car but crashed it into bollards avoiding a cyclist.

Leaving the vehicle he took a taxis home and began drinking wine and vodka on top of the alcohol he had already consumed.

A police officer, PC William Vye, came to his home to find out why Downey's car was causing an obstruction in the city cente, magistrates heard.

Downey then became angry and the police officer decided to handcuff him.

Monica Lentin, defending, told the court that all Downey wanted to do was put his feet up and forget about the attack on him.

According to prosecution solicitor Paul Brown Downey had become restless. He had allowed the officer to handcuff one wrist but when the officer tried to place the cuffs on the other limb he grabbed the arm and refused to let go.

Paul Brown, prosecuting, said: "The officer tried to make him see sense and calm him down but he continued to lock his arms out. 

"He was struggling to get free from the grip. It was felt he was using his martial arts skills to resist arrest."

PC Vye struggled free and used a spray to subdue Downey, who had learned martial arts to protect himself after suffering violence while he worked as a counsellor for alcoholics.

He apologised to the court after he was fined £160 for drink-driving and disqualified for two years. 

He was ordered to pay £100 costs and £100 for resisting arrest.