A DISTRAUGHT mother is on "a mission for justice" after her mentally ill son was taken to court for "bumping into someone" in the street.

Judith Goeden, 60, of Stafford Road, Caterham, lodged complaints with Surrey Police and the Crown Prosecution Service after son Ashley, 30, was convicted at Redhill Magistrates' Court on August 19 of assaulting a policeman.

Mr Goeden – who suffers from severe epilepsy after contracting meningitis at 14 months old – was convicted of assaulting PC Andrew Adams on August 8 last year when the officer was called to a row between Mr Goeden and a neighbour.

However, Mrs Goeden claims her son did not mean to hurt the policeman, and the officer's inability to deal with a vulnerable adult led to the offence.

"I want blood. I want justice for my son," she said after the case had finished.

"How can they prosecute him? His own doctor has said he has the IQ of a nine-year-old.

"What is more the police officer knew exactly who Ashley was and what his problems are as he had met him before.

"All he did was bump into someone in the street and it has gone all the way to court. It's shameful considering all the problems he has."

Mr Goeden was arrested after neighbour Derek Wapples claimed he assaulted him in Croydon Road on August 8 last year.

Prosecutor Celia Record told magistrates chairman Caroline Griffith that Mr Goeden pushed into her client outside a newsagents last year, after which an argument followed.

Mr Wapples called the police. When PC Adams arrived and tried to calm Mr Goeden down, he was unable to and claimed he was punched in the face and had scratches to the side of his head from the defendant.

However, Martin Durnin, defending, asked PC Adams whether he knew Mr Goeden suffered from mental difficulties, and whether he was sufficiently trained to deal with them.

Despite being found guilty of assaulting the officer, Mr Goeden was given a not guilty verdict for common assault charge on Mr Wapples after the claimant and his partner gave contradictory evidence in the dock.

Mr Goeden – who is on disability benefits – received a £60 fine for assaulting the officer and ordered to pay £100 in compensation.

Mr Goeden said after the case: "It's a joke. I should be the one getting compensation."