Darlington man jailed for spitting in police officer's face

Andrew Hall was arrested following a lengthy struggle with officers when they eventually tracked him down in Middleton St George after they were called by a member of the public in the early hours of the morning.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 45-year-old had initially managed to evade capture but when he came out of hiding, he walked straight into the path of officers on Killinghall Row on December 4, 2020.

Shada Mellor, prosecuting, said: “An officer took him to the ground and attempted to restrain him but he put up a considerable amount of resistance. He was eventually taken under control with the assistance of other officers.

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“He was taken back to his feet so they could take him to the police station, as the officers did so they passed another officer, the defendant turned his head and spat in his face and said - ‘I have Covid’ and started laughing.

“He had a spit hood placed on him and he was taken to the police station.”

Miss Mellor said the defendant continued to be obstructive and refused to give a sample for analysis amid concerns that he had been drink driving.

The court heard how he had 25 convictions for 71 previous offences.

Hall, of Acton House, Darlington, was found guilty of assault on an emergency worker following a trial at the same court. He also pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis from the same incident.

Christopher Morrison, mitigating, said his client had got to grips with his drink and drug problems and was now working as a volunteer drugs counsellor.

Judge Jonathan Carroll sentenced Hall to a total of 22 weeks in prison.

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He said: “At the time of this offence many people were dying from Covid, some people still had to go to work because of their job – including the police, doctors and all emergency services.

“They were in the frontline to protect the public, putting themselves at risk, in the face of incredible danger, while trying to keep us all safe.

“In every possible way you were more than a nuisance, you were a threat to public safety.”

Hall was also banned from driving for 30 months.