Man threatened to bite police officer’s face off

A THIRTY-YEAR-OLD man who threatened to bite a police officer’s face off during a prolonged altercation, has been jailed.

Lee Doherty with an address of Davis Crescent, Newtownstewart also assaulted several officers during the melee on August 2.

On Thursday the repeat offender – Doherty had previously been sentenced to 12 months in prison on other matters – appeared at Strabane Magistrates Court via videolink from Maghaberry. He pleaded guilty to a string of serious offences including drug possession, criminal damage, assault on police and resisting arrest. A charge of making a threat to kill was withdrawn.

The court heard that on the day in question, police attended Doherty’s home to find that he had been drinking and was in breach of bail. As he was being arrested, the defendant asked if could change his underwear before leaving.

Tablets

This request was granted by police but as he went to change his clothes, Doherty attempted to ingest a bag containing a quantity of tablets.

Officers prevented him from doing this and then discovered he had another bag of tablets clenched in his fist.

It was at this stage that Doherty became abusive.

As he was being escorted from the house, he shouted, “F*** up you orange b*******,” and then challenged a constable, even attempting to headbutt the officer.

As he was being taken to hospital, Doherty became even more aggressive, struggling with the officers. He started headbutting the windows in the police vehicle and told an officer, “I’ll bite your face off.”

At the hospital Doherty then kicked a bin and spat blood onto the ground.

His erratic behaviour continued and he kept shouting. He was warned about this multiple times.

After this, when he was being taken into custody, Doherty began spitting on police, landing spittle on two police officers. He also spat in the rear of the police vehicle and then kicked the central panel in the car, causing the air vents to be broken.

Later in interview, Doherty admitted that the drugs – Xanax and Ecstasy – were for personal use but denied committing any offences.

Clear message

Handing down the sentence, Deputy District Judge John Connolly referred to Doherty’s spitting during a time of pandemic. He said, “There has to be a clear message sent out (about this type of behaviour).”

The judge said he had taken into account the early guilty pleas but nevertheless, jailed Doherty for four months.

Compensation totaling £230 for the damages to the police vehicle was not granted as the judge said, “Because his means will be limited.”