Man spat blood in officer's face
A MAN who repeatedly spat in a police officer¹s face has walked free from Bishop Auckland Magistrates¹ Court.Benjamin Alexander Patrick, 19, from Meadow View, Stanhope, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest, last Friday.
Police were called out to the home of Mr Patrick¹s mother, on March 13, to investigate a report that Mr Patrick had locked himself in a loft and was threatening self-harm.
When two police officers arrived at the scene, Mr Patrick was in a car and his mother was blocking the vehicle¹s path.
He was said to be clearly under the influence of alcohol.
The prosecution council told how officers put Mr Patrick into the back of a police car. He then began banging his head against the rear view window.
Mr Patrick was, ³sprawled across the back seat, kicking and punching,² when the officers moved to restrain him.
The court was told that Mr Patrick then spat into the eye of PC Crampsie.
The spit was described as ³bloody mucus².
PC Crampsie said: ³In all my years of service I have never felt so sick and disgusted.² He then tried to climb into the front of the car and again spat into the officer¹s face.
The defence told the court that Mr Patrick was frustrated at being unable to gain access to his 13-month-old child.
This, along with gin and paracetamol, caused a ³disturbance of his mental state², said the defence.
The court was told that Mr Patrick was ashamed of his actions and had made a point of seeing the officer and apologising for his behaviour.
A Magistrate said: ³No officer should be subjected to what this officer was.² Mr Patrick was given a 12-month conditional discharge.
He was ordered to pay £100 compensation to PC Crampsie and £43 costs.
