A MAN has been sentenced to a community order after he assaulted two Environment Agency officers.

Sam Hunter, 27, of Boothroyd Lane, Dewsbury, was ordered to take part in a 21-day thinking skills and rehabilitation programme and 80 hours’ unpaid work.

Hunter pleaded guilty having been charged with assaulting two Environment Agency officers that visited the 24/7 Concrete and Aggregates Recycling site on Weaving Lane in Dewsbury on April 11.

Officers visited the site to confirm waste that had allegedly been delivered in breach of environmental permitting regulations had been taken away.

Whilst carrying out their duties they were verbally threatened and physically assaulted by Hunter.

Vincent Heaphy, from the Environment Agency, said: “Our officers do endure abuse and threats of violence in carrying out important work to protect people and the environment.

“The sentence handed out shows that the courts will not allow assault of public servants to go unpunished. It sends out a strong message to others that would obstruct our officers from performing their duties.”

TOP STORIES: