Drunken Hartlepool man Tasered by police after baseball bat attack on car

Andrew Crannage smashed the windscreen, the rear window and two side windows in the attack in the run-up to Christmas, Teesside Crown Court heard.

“There is a background in this case of a family dispute,” said Rachel Masters, prosecuting.

“Both families were living in York Road, in Hartlepool, at the time of this incident before Christmas.

“Neighbours reported seeing the defendant shouting abuse in the street in the early hours of December 20.”

The court was told the car was being driven in York Road when Crannage armed himself with a baseball bat.

“He took a swing at the car as it went past,” said Ms Masters. “He missed, spun around and fell to the ground.

“The car stopped, Crannage approached it, and used the bat to break two passenger windows, the rear window, and the windscreen.

“Police arrived and had to use a Taser to effect Crannage’s arrest.”

Crannage, 37, York Road, Hartlepool, admitted affray, possessing an offensive weapon, and criminal damage, all on December 20, last year.

He has previous convictions for assault and for being drunk and disorderly.

Jim Withyman, defending, said in mitigation: “This was an unpleasant incident following a long-running dispute.

“As ever, there are two sides to that story.

“Mr Crannage rarely drinks now, so what he had that day had a greater effect on him.

“He is ashamed of how he behaved.

“Mr Crannage is a working man with children. He knows this case may be reported in the press, which will cause him and his family further embarrassment.”

The Recorder, Mr Andrew Sutcliffe QC, sentenced Crannage to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, 100 hours of community work, and 25 days of rehabilitation activity.

Recorder Sutcliffe told Crannage: “Your behaviour that day must have caused alarm and distress to those who witnessed it.

“Your guilty pleas, genuine remorse, and your circumstances outlined in the probation report enable me to suspend the sentence.”

The recorder ordered the confiscation of the baseball bat.