Stockton drug addict spat at nurse during Covid pandemic

Raymond Dowson also repeatedly kicked a police officer in the chest on another occasion when his mental health spiralled out of control.

During one arrest it was discovered that he had hidden a wrap of Class A drugs – crack cocaine - in his genitals.

The 37-year-old carried out a catalogue of offences throughout last year before he was eventually remanded in custody in November, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, said Dowson’s latest series of offending started in February when he assaulted three emergency workers and possession of Class A drugs following reports of domestic violence.

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He said: “Following his arrest he was abusive and aggressive to the arresting officers and later hospital staff,” he said. “Whilst in hospital he assaulted a nurse by spitting his face under a protective visor.

“He was arrested for assault emergency worker, he then assaulted a police officer by kicking him to the wrist. The defendant was searched and officers recovered a small white package from his genitals.

The next batch of offences happened on October 4 when Dowson was arrested following a report of a theft from a motor vehicle.

Stockton High Street

Mr Abrahams said the defendant was arrested on Stockton High Street carrying a logbook and three CDs from the car.

The third set of offences were for possession of a bladed article when he was arrested on October 20 when he was carrying a ‘potato knife’ which somehow ended up in his shoe.

And the final charges occurred on November 21 when he was arrested for assault emergency worker, possession of Class C drugs, and possession of a bladed article.

The counsel added: “It was while he was being arrested that he assaulted the PC by kicking her multiple times to the chest.”

Dowson, of Wembley Way, Stockton, pleaded guilty to four offences of assaulting an emergency worker; possession of Class and Class B drugs; two charges of possession of a bladed article; and theft from a motor vehicle.

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Jane Waugh, in mitigation, urged the judge to pass a non-custodial sentence as her client has spent the equivalent of 14 months in prison while awaiting sentence and his mental health is now stable.

She said: “In relation to the emergency workers, he said what he did was ‘disgusting they were only trying to do their job and they don’t deserve that’.”

Recorder Thomas Moran passed an 18-month community order sentence after acknowledging Dowson had spent seven months in custody.

He said: “When you were taken to hospital you committed the most serious offence, a particularly disgusting offence, when you spat at a nurse in hospital.”

Dowson was given a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement and 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

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