A former regional journalist was attacked outside court after being spared jail over a child sex offence.

Will Green was subjected to the alleged assault outside Teesside Magistrates’ Court after being handed a community order following a guilty plea to a single charge of making 79 Category C still indecent images of children.

According to the Teesside Gazette, Green’s head and mask were grabbed before he was chased back towards the Middlesbrough court building.

Green, pictured, shouted “help, help” and ran back inside as a number of security guards pinned a man down near the court steps.

A 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault, while Cleveland’s Police and Crime Commissioner has announced he will formally object to Green’s sentence.

Green worked at the Hexham Courant “for a short period of time” before leaving in 2008 to work in the Northumbria Police press office.

The 42-year-old was suspended from his most recent role as head of corporate communications at Cleveland Police when he was arrested on 12 January this year and later resigned.

Green, of Morpeth, was sentenced to a 24-month community order and must also complete 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days and the ‘Maps for Change’ programme.

He will also be subject to notification requirements for five years and pay a court bill of £180.

However, Cleveland PCC Steve Turner described the crime as “sickening” and stated “the sentencing in this case has let down the victims”.

In a statement issued yesterday, Mr Turner said: “I find this type of crime sickening and abhor the abuse of children in any capacity – and that includes the taking of indecent images.

“My thoughts are with the victims and their families at this time.”

He added: “In order to uphold the law, we must abide by it and let law and order take its course when an individual is found – or pleads – guilty.

“It is possible, however, to make a formal, legal, objection.

“To that end, I will be writing to the Attorney General to ask for a review of this sentence.”

Cleveland Police stated that Green had “let his colleagues, partner agencies and local communities down”.

Superintendent Paul Waugh, of the force’s directorate of standards and ethics, said: “This is not a victimless crime and behind every illegal image of a child is a victim of child sexual abuse and exploitation who endures a lifetime of trauma.

“These victims are often not identified and do not have the ability to speak out about their abuse in court.

“As soon as Cleveland Police was made aware of these allegations, swift action was taken by specialist detectives and a warrant was executed at an address in the Cleveland area during which computers and other items were seized.

“Whilst the offences are not linked to his role, he was in a trusted position in policing, communicating about the core values that he did not uphold.

“He has let his colleagues, partner agencies and local communities down.

“The public may be concerned that a Cleveland Police staff member has been found to have committed these offences, but I hope our actions to bring this person before the courts provides reassurance and highlights that we do everything in our power to seek justice for these crimes, without fear or favour, even when the suspect works for the same police force.

“The level of sentence given is a matter for the judge.”