Topless North Shields drunk spat blood in police officer's face after fighting in street
by Sara Nichol · ChronicleLiveA topless drunk spat blood in the face of a police officer after he was stopped from fighting in the street.
Matthew Jack took exception to being restrained and told to calm down by the constable, who'd help break up a late-night, physical altercation between the 23-year-old and another male outside McDonald's, in Newcastle city centre. Jack kicked out and was seen to try and spit at other officers before turning and spitting blood in the face of the victim, a court heard.
The vile act led to the apprentice heating and ventilation engineer, of Glanton Road, in North Shields, being arrested and charged with assaulting an emergency worker. He pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court.
Clare Irving, prosecuting, said police were called to reports of a fight outside McDonald's, on Grainger Street, on October 27. Miss Armstrong continued: "The defendant and another male were fighting on the floor.
"The defendant and the male were pulled apart. The defendant had blood on his face and no top on and was still trying to fight and get to the other male. He was pulled to the ground and the officer tried to handcuff him.
"The defendant immediately resisted and the office kept hold of him. The officer says 'I could see he had been assaulted and I was trying to calm him down. He was swearing and called me a c***'.
"The defendant was kicking his legs out. At this point, the defendant started spitting blood towards another officer. [The victim] warned him to stop but he turned his head and spat right in [the victim's] face."
The court heard that Jack was quickly detained and arrested. In a statement, the victim said he'd had to go to hospital for blood tests. He added: "This man intentionally spat blood in my face and mouth and that's just horrific."
Mark Harrison, defending, said Jack was "absolutely devastated" by his behaviour. Mr Harrison added: "He had been on a rare night out. He had consumed alcohol for his partner's friend's birthday.
"They went to McDonald's to get some supper to have on the way home. Inside the restaurant, he was assaulted by another male. The other male was put outside. Mr Jack had injuries and was bleeding.
"He and his partner left, only to be confronted by the same male outside. Mr Jack was then struck again." Mr Harrison said Jack thought it was "unfair" that the police were called and were trying to arrest him and not the other male.
District Judge Paul Currer adjourned sentence until December 12 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.
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