Police officer punched by 90-year-old man had to call for back-up

A policeman who was punched in the face by a 90-year-old man was so surprised that he had to call for back up, a court has heard.

Despite having difficulty walking, suffering from failing health and poor hearing, Dr Ronald Stewart-Nunn, 90, still managed to punch PC Kevin Lock, giving him a bloody nose, before slashing his face with his car keys.

The violent incident happened after PC Lock pulled over the pensioner in his car for driving without a licence. The police officer said that in an 18-year career with the force he had “never encountered someone with such a rage that had presented itself without warning” and had to call for back-up.



Magistrates fined Stewart-Nunn, described in court as an “eminent scientist, engineer and musician”, a total of £1,845 at a hearing in Aldershot on Tuesday.

Despite being convicted at an earlier trial, Stewart-Nunn insisted that he was the injured party, telling magistrates: “It’s all wrong. I was the one that was assaulted." Court chairman Helen Jermy said that magistrates had considered sending the 90-year-old to jail for up to 18 weeks before deciding to fine him.

Magistrates fined Stewart-Nunn £750 for the assault, £150 for driving without a licence, ordered him to pay £630 court costs, £300 compensation for PC Lock and £15 towards a fund for victims of crime.