Michael White began hurling slurs at passers-by when police intervened
Police at the scene of the incident near Canal Street in Manchester(Image: GMP)
A man attempted to drag a GMP officer towards the Rochdale Canal after hurling homophobic slurs during an evening in Manchester’s Gay Village.
Michael White, 40, was heard shouting the phrase “gay boys” towards members of the public passing by during an evening on Canal Street in October 2022.
Plain-clothed officers on patrol overheard him making the comment and warned White, but he continued to be abusive, Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard.
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Officers then attempted to arrest him, when he then grabbed an officers arm, ‘swung him around’ and attempted to drag him towards the canal before he was detained.
White later that he didn’t know that the officers were police and continued to deny charges of assault of an emergency worker.
The 40-year-old, of Millers Lane in Wigan, was found guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on September 1 and has been ordered to pay £1,000 in court costs and £100 in victim compensation.
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Superintendent Nicola Williams, of GMP’s City of Manchester division, said: “Officers are committed to keeping the public safe and our plain-clothed patrols are a vital part of ensuring everyone can enjoy our city centre’s night life.
“White was not only heard to make homophobic and discriminatory remarks in the Village; when approached by officers he continued to be abusive before going to the extent of trying to drag an officer towards the canal.
“We’re proud of our officers putting themselves in harms way to protect the public and, as this case shows, we have a mix of high-visibility patrols and plain clothes officers to achieve this.”