A man who used a key to assault a police officer who was trying to arrest him is to be assessed for the danger he poses the public before being sentenced.

Matthew Smith has admitted assaulting the officer, causing him actual harm, in an incident dating from August 26, last year.

Police turned up at his home to execute a warrant, issued by a court in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, for his arrest.

The 40-year-old defendant of Barwick Street, Easington Colliery, previously admitted the charge, but on the basis that he did not use a key to cause a laceration to the officer’s cheek bone.

(Image: The Northern Echo) But the court was notified last month that the basis had been abandoned by the defendant, who now accepts the facts as alleged by the prosecution.

When Smith appeared at Durham Crown Court, via video link from the city’s nearby prison, for what was to have been the sentencing hearing, Judge Nathan Adams said he wanted updated Probation Service and psychiatric reports to assess the defendant’s level of “dangerousness”.

“Given the number of offences with weapons, there ought to be a pre-sentence report to consider dangerousness.

“I don’t want to rush into this today.”

(Image: The Northern Echo) Judge Adams referred to the defendant's previous offences, one of which involved the use of a golf club, in 2021, with criminal damage the same day and two further matters of making threats with offensive weapons.

Addressing Smith, Judge Adams told him: “You have abandoned your previous basis relating to the assault on the police officer.

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“Sentence will now take place in November to allow for psychiatric and pre-sentence reports as to the level of danger and the risk you pose to the public.”

He urged the defendant to “engage” with the process of drawing up both reports.

Judge Adams added: “In the meantime you will remain in custody and you will be sentenced before me on November 11.”