A banned driver from County Durham who was approached by police officers next to the A66 became aggressive when he was quizzed about a theft.

When arrested near Penrith, 30-year-old Jamie Cliff, from Bishop Auckland, reacted aggressively, spitting at one of the officers and attempting to kick another, Carlisle Magistartes Court at Rickergate heard. He admitted two police assaults and driving while disqualified.

The prosecution withdrew an allegation that he was drunk while in charge of his Citroen Berlingo on the B6262 on the same occasion.

Prosecutor Diane Jackson outlined the facts.

She said two police officers - a constable and a sergeant - approached the defendant on February 29 at a roadside “encampment” after receiving reports that he had been driving illegally, defying a ban that was imposed by a court on an earlier occasion.  

“He’d been seen driving a silver van earlier in the day,” said Mrs Jackson.

“The officers made enquiries at the encampment and saw Mr Cliff there, sitting in the driver’s seat of his vehicle.” After his arrest, Cliff became uncooperative, which prompted the officers to put him in handcuffs.

But he clung to the side of his vehicle’s doorframe.

“The officers took him to the ground and used a pava spray on his face,” continued Mrs Jackson. “After a moment of calm, he became agitated and verbally abusive, kicking up towards the officer’s head; he also spat towards the other officer.

“The spittle landed on his jacket.”

Sarah Lish, defending, said the defendant was arrested that day for an alleged theft, though the police never proceeded with that allegation and Cliff was never charged with theft. “He was disputing [that allegation] with the officers," said the lawyer.

“That was the reason he became argumentative and abusive to the officers when they arrested him. He accepts this was no defence.”

After the incident, while Cliff was on police bail, he was convicted of aggravated vehicle taking and another disqualified driving, which featured dangerous driving.  For those earlier offences, he was given a nine-month jail term and a 36-month ban.

“So he is now banned effectively forever unless he passes an extended test,” added the lawyer.

Deputy District Judge Timothy Gascoigne described the defendant’s record for driving offences as “horrendous”, saying this led to regular prison terms.

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“And you are going to prison this afternoon,” he told the defendant. He jailed Cliff, whose address was given as Melrose Drive, Bishop Auckland, for eight months and imposed 48-month driving ban.

The judge extended the disqualification by a further four months to reflect the time Cliff will spend behind bars. After his sentence was announced, Cliff shouted "love you" to family members who were in the court's public gallery.

They and the defendant muttered insults at the judge as they left the courtroom and as Cliff was left away to start his sentence.