Army veteran assaulted multiple police officers after drink drive and arson

Court reporter

Fri, 26 May 2023 at 4:00 pm BST

A military veteran will appear before the Crown Court after pleading guilty to arson, drink driving and multiple assaults on police officers on the Isle of Wight.

Lee Cross, of Sherbourne Avenue, Ryde, attended the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Tuesday, May 23, to plead guilty to arson, drink driving, using threatening, abusive or insulting words/behaviour with intent to cause fear of violence, four counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker and two counts of common assault of an emergency worker.

Liz Miller, prosecuting, said Cross had been spotted on Ring doorbell footage by one of his neighbours at 9.24pm on April 14, 2023, before realising their green wheelie bin was alight.

The neighbour confronted the 36-year-old, who initially denied involvement but admitted guilt after being told he was caught on camera.

Mrs Miller said: “The was bin very close to the house, and if she [the neighbour] hadn’t seen him on the Ring doorbell, it could have been very serious.”

The court then heard that, at 7.50pm on May 5, Cross was spotted in his green Mazda by a man who challenged him on whether he should be operating the vehicle.

Mrs Miller said Cross became agitated, and when police arrived at 8pm, they found him in the middle of the road shouting abuse at the man.

Cross pushed a police officer to the ground and resisted arrest before spitting at and kicking another three officers.

He was taken to Newport Police Station, where he attempted to bite two officers, and gave an alcohol reading of 71mg, more than double the legal limit of 35mg.

Concerning the arson charge, Michael McGoldrick, defending, said his client was trying to bin a disposable BBQ, but his bin was full, believing his neighbours would not mind him using their bin, not realising it would catch fire.

Mr McGoldrick said Cross is a military veteran who has suffered from mental health issues and has been diagnosed with PTSD.

Magistrates ordered a pre-sentence report before sentencing at Crown Court on June 30, with Cross given conditional bail and handed an interim six-month driving ban.