A violent and prolific offender from Maidstone who assaulted staff at a medical centre and then threw hot coffee in the face of a police officer has been sent straight to prison.

After attending a surgery in Brewer Street, Darren Turpin caused a disturbance in a reception area where he punched a glass screen that shattered, causing cuts to the hand and face of an employee.

Following the assault, which happened on Monday 8 April 2024, Turpin fled the scene but was quickly tracked down and arrested in the town centre by constables from the neighbourhood policing team.

Whilst in custody, Turpin threw food and drinks within a cell and in a consultation area. On the following day, he was given a cup of coffee in a police station interview room where he then threw the hot liquid in an officer’s face.

Turpin, 55, of no fixed address, was charged by investigators from the Maidstone Victim Based Crime Team, with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault of an emergency worker, and four counts of criminal damage.

He appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 11 April, where he pleaded guilty to all the charges as well as an additional indictment of breaching a criminal behaviour order. Turpin was immediately imprisoned for 42 weeks. 

District Commander for Maidstone, Chief Inspector Mark McLellan, said: ‘When Turpin caused a disturbance at a local surgery and assaulted one of the staff, he was subject to a criminal behaviour order requiring him not to use abusive or threatening language or behaviour in a public place. It is apparent he clearly has no respect for the law and his behaviour was offensive, intimidating and entirely unacceptable.

‘This is a repeat offender with a lengthy history of criminal convictions and whose conduct at the police station was equally disgraceful, assaulting one of my officers in a manner that could easily have resulted in a permanent injury. Police officers and those who work in the medical profession should be able to assist the public without suffering abuse or attacks from the likes of Turpin. He has now been punished for his actions and Maidstone will certainly be a safer place while he is again behind bars.’