Thug headbutted police officer in face at Luton Airport

At around 8am on Monday, March 25 last year, officers from Bedfordshire Police’s unit based at Luton Airport were alerted to a wanted man attempting to board a flight to Romania.

Cristian Leonte, 25, was identified as being wanted for failing to attend court in Hampshire.

Leonte was arrested and escorted out of the terminal building, where officers began to search his pockets.

As he was searched, Leonte headbutted the officer in the face, causing pain to his mouth and teeth, and he was further arrested for assault on an emergency worker.

At Luton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, January 26, Leonte was found guilty and given a community order for 12 months, with 180 hours' unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £620 to the CPS and £80 to the officer.

Sergeant Giles Hutchinson, from the airport policing unit, said: “No one comes to work to be assaulted and, on this occasion, our officer was not badly hurt, but Leonte’s behaviour was completely unacceptable.

“Those who try to evade the law by leaving the country can expect to be apprehended and face the consequences, and we will always seek to prosecute those who abuse or assault our officers in the course of their duty.”

> What do you think? Email your thoughts to editorial@lutonnews.co.uk.