Appeal court backs Croc-flinging crook

A MAN jailed after being accused of throwing a “Croc”-type shoe at a woman police officer’s chest has had his conviction overturned on appeal by top judges.

Andrew Walton (42), of Cherry Tree Place, Wath, was said to have hurled the “hard plastic slipper type shoe” at the officer whilst being questioned about tools which were stolen from a van in September last year.

Walton was jailed for a year after pleading guilty to common assault on March 3 at Sheffield Crown Court and to handling stolen goods on May 19. He was sentenced on June 10.

Lord Justice Moses, Mr Justice Walker and Mr Justice Singh, sitting at London's Criminal Appeal Court on Tuesday, quashed his conviction on the common assault count —meaning in practical terms that his jail term is cut by a third from 12 months to eight.

The court heard that after £800 worth of tools was stolen from a van close to his home, Walton was spotted by a neighbour pulling drills from a hidden cache on wasteland with another man.

It was whilst being questioned about this incident that he was accused of losing his temper, pulling off his Croc and letting fly.

Walton’s lawyers argued the two charges he faced should have been put on separate indictments as they were not part of the same incident.

Mr Justice Singh agreed and overturned the common assault conviction—despite Walton's guilty plea— meaning the 12-month term for that offence was also quashed. 

That leaves Walton to serve just the eight months he was given for the handling offence.