A judge said a man who bit and also spat in the faces of a number of police officers had “behaved like an animal” and it was one of the worst cases he had ever dealt with.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan was speaking at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court where he sentenced Jake Hull (19), of Orient Circle in Lurgan, to 16 months, half to be spent in prison and half on release licence.
The defendant pleaded guilty to ten charges relating to March 30 this year – seven assaults on police; assaulting his father and causing criminal damage to picture frames and a police key chain.
The defendant appeared via video link from prison where he had been on remand.
On March 30 Hull was drunk and was “wrecking” his dad’s home by throwing and breaking items. He kicked his father on the leg.
When police arrived the defendant spat in the face of an officer. He spat at another officer who was struck twice on the forehead and also the mouth.
He bit another officer on the leg and nipped and scratched his arm.
Another officer was spat at and was struck in the face and glasses
Hull was handcuffed and limb restraints were applied and he was carried to a cell van.
The defendant attempted to kick, bite, spit and headbutt offiicers.
He “smashed” his head off the side of the cell van “causing a split to open at the back of his head”.
The defendant removed a spit and bite guard and spat in an officer’s face. He shouted and swore and threatened to kill police. He spat in the face of an officer and bit an officer.
Hull was taken to Craigavon Area Hospital and near the Children’s Hospital continued to shout and swear despite a young sick child being nearby.
A defence barrister said the defendant was “not proud of” the incidents and wished to apologise.
Judge Ranaghan said despite his young age the defendant had 40 previous assaults on police on his record.
He said the case “is one of the worst sets of offences I have heard in this court”.
The judge said the “thrust” of the sentencing was the behaviour towards police and the tail-end of the incident happening at a hospital.
Judge Ranaghan said a “deterrent” sentence was needed “to protect police who have to deal with such animalistic behaviour”.
He added: “The restraint police show in this jurisdiction is above and beyond really what we should expect.
“This man behaved like an animal against fitter, better trained people who are armed but he gets away with it in his own view. He will not get away with this today”.
He said it had been a “disgusting” incident “and added that Hull was a “very lucky man the police in this jurisdiction are quite so tolerant of that type of animalistic behaviour”.
