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Dover Attic Bar & Nightclub manager called police officer 'nasty tyrant, bad copper and retard'

A drunk nightclub bar manager has been fined after calling a police officer "a bad copper, a nasty tyrant and a retard".

Ben Pilott had somehow got into a private car park for police staff in Dover in the early hours when PC Jonathan Bowler went out to talk to him to try and get him to leave.

Ben Pilott appeared at Margate Magistrates' Court
Ben Pilott appeared at Margate Magistrates' Court

But as PC Bowler approached Pilott, who runs the Attic Bar & Nightclub in Church Street, the 26-year-old started to get argumentative.

Bizarrely, he told the officer he was good at suing police and, in particular, the police commissioner - and that he gets good pay-off from the claims.

Again, PC Bowler tried to persuade him to leave the car park, but Pilott then started calling him names.

Pilott, of Tower Hamlets Road, was arrested and later charged with threatening behaviour.

He admitted the offence when he appeared before magistrates in Margate last week.

Ben Pilott (62231752)
Ben Pilott (62231752)

The court heard Pilott had been caught in the car park in Dover at about 5.20am on July 7 last year.

Dylan Bradshaw prosecuting said: "This is an unusual matter caused by drunkenness.

"The private car park is reserved for police staff and PC Bowler goes to speak to him to try and get him to leave the car park as a matter of principle.

"He tries to reason with him, but takes the view he may have to arrest him as the defendant's behaviour deteriorated and he called him bad copper, a nasty tyrant and a retard."

The court also heard Pilott has other convictions for battery and assault.

Pilott was sentenced at Margate Magistrates Court. Picture: Roger Charles
Pilott was sentenced at Margate Magistrates Court. Picture: Roger Charles

Mr Bradshaw added: "His recent convictions are very unattractive - an assault on an emergency worker and battery.

"The defendant needs to work on his behaviour."

Magistrates were also told Pilott had not been in custody since last year.

They heard he had been in a cab with his friend, who he then lost and went to find, but ended up in the car park.

The court was told Pilott works mainly night shifts as a bar manager at the club and was still on a community order he'd been given for a previous offence and still had 46 hours of unpaid work to complete.

The bench decided to fine Pilott £115 for the offence and ordered he pay PC Bowler £100 compensation and pay a victim surcharge of £46 and £85 costs.

They also told him to think about his behaviour in the future.

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