The son of shamed police inspector Tony Laycock fears that if his father is jailed, it will 'kill' him.

Laycock, 44, yesterday (FRI) admitted assaulting Pc Paul Oliver while at Banbury police station and using threatening behaviour towards Sgt Anthony Brown.

Laycock also admitted two counts of failing to provide a specimen for a breath test, Bicester magistrates were told. But charges of threats to kill and possession of an offensive weapon were dropped.

Speaking after the case, son Jon Laycock said: "Hopefully he will get a non-custodial sentence because being inside would kill him. He has dedicated a good 30 years of his life to the force and he is a bloody good cop. He has been there, done everything."

During the earlier court case Dennis Scully, prosecuting, said Laycock had been suffering domestic problems after moving in with Sgt Brown's former wife Deborah, also a police officer, and her two daughters.

WPc Brown had obtained an order from Oxford County Court preventing Laycock from being alone with the children. But on October 6 he attempted to pick up the eldest daughter from school in his car. WPc Brown told Laycock not to be so stupid and she picked up her daughter - but he managed to get ahead of her on the way home and when she arrived home his car was blocking the driveway.

Mr Scully told the court: "He was carrying a walking stick. He stood in the middle of the driveway holding the walking stick in what she considered to be a threaten- ing way. He said he was going to kill Sgt Brown.

"Mr Laycock said: 'I am going to kill him. He is a bastard and I will sort him out for you. I will be dead after I deal with him'".

Laycock drove off but later telephoned Sgt Brown and told him: "You sad little man - you don't even care for your girls." About two hours later Laycock was arrested at home. After two court appearances he was released on conditional bail, which he broke last Sunday by visiting WPc Brown at Oriel Way, Bicester, where she was staying.

The court heard Laycock was found in the back garden crouching down by the patio and was arrested.

Laycock then refused to take two breath tests after car keys were found on him and his car was red Audi seen parked nearby, the court heard. The first attempted test was by the roadside and the second at Banbury police station. At the police station he punched Pc Oliver on the side of the head and had to be restrained.

Mark Lowen, defending, said: "This was nowhere near as serious an incident as was first made out. What he said to Mr Brown was said in the heat of the moment.

"At some stage in the future Mrs Brown and Mr Laycock will continue their relationship."

A police spokesman said: "These offences were committed whilst Insp Laycock was suspended from police duty. They were completely unrelated to his role as a police officer.

"Insp Laycock has tendered his resignation and his situation is now under consideration."

The case has been adjourned for psychiatric reports. A tarnished copper INSP Tony Laycock had been a loyal servant to the police for a quarter of a century. Up to his resignation, he had served 25 years with the force including three years in the cadets after joining at the tender age of 16.

His first post was a police constable came in Cowley in 1973 and he later served stints around the county in Oxford, Didcot and Witney.

Laycock enjoyed a steady rise through police ranks and became a which saw him reach the position of sergeant after ten years' service.

Within another four years he had been promoted to the rank of inspector and became the officer in charge at Bicester in 1992. Laycock arrived in Bicester from the force's Criminal Justice department in Oxford, which deals with force policy on prosecution in liaison with the courts and the Crown Prosecution Service. During his 25 years on the force with Thames Valley police he has worked in the traffic division, with CID, in research and planning and in the complaints and discipline department.

Shortly before his suspension and subsequent resignation he was based at Thames Valley police headquarters in Kidlington.

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