A binman who punched a naked charity cyclist who he mistook for a pervert has been spared jail.
Council worker, Lee Turnage, 46, punched a cyclist who was participating in a World Naked Bike Ride event on August 9.
Turnage, of Colchester, was arrested by two police officers outside The Leather Pub in Colchester, Essex.
It was heard in Ipswich Crown Court that he attacked the officers and was found with a knife as they arrested him.
Turnage was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court
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One officer had his ear glued back on as a result of the attack, the court heard.
Turnage, a part time binman for Colchester Council, was given a suspended sentence for previous good character and caring responsibilities for his grandmother.
Steven Dyble, barrister for Turnage, said he had no previous convictions other than traffic offences he committed in France in the 1990s.
The barrister said: “He encountered a number of middle-aged men cycling in the nude.
“That is not to the defendant’s taste, but he reacted very badly to what he thought of, to use the vernacular, as perverts cycling naked in what was a residential area.”
Prosecutor Charles Judge said Turnage was riding his own motorcycle, uninsured, when he saw the participants of the naked bike ride riding down Hythe Hill.
The prosecutor said after Turnage saw the naked cyclists, he turned around, rode back up the hill, and punched the cyclist in the head.
Mr Judge said the cyclist suffered cuts to his legs and grazing on his arms, and hands.
The World Naked Bike Ride event draws thousands of participants
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Footage of the attack was sent to the police who found Turnage at the Leather Bottle pub.
The officers seized his helmet and backpack, and Turnage said in response: “You’re not taking that.”
This led to Turnage attacking the officers, engaging with a headlock, breaking their glasses, and kicking them.
Mr Judge said: “PC Jenny Ham was taken to the floor and described being terrified for her safety and her colleague.
“Other officers attended and saw PC Charlie Jones being attended to because his ear was torn – his ear was glued to repair that particular damage.”
Turnage admitted one charge each of dangerous driving, driving without insurance, criminal damage, and assaulting a police officer, along with two charges of actual bodily harm.
Turnage has been sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for two years.
He will be ordered to carry out 15 rehabilitation days, 75 hours of unpaid work and pay £2,000 to the cyclist.
