9:00am Saturday 23rd June 2012
A MILFORD Haven man who got drunk on New Year’s Eve and ended up biting a police officer, was warned last Friday he had escaped jail by the skin of his teeth.
Richard Roberts, 36, of Oaklands, Mount Estate, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.
Janet Gedrych, prosecuting, told Swansea crown court that Roberts’ partner called police to the house after he arrived home drunk and causing trouble.
As officers tried to persuade Roberts to sleep at his mother’s home, he threatened to ‘commit suicide’ and they decided to arrest him for his own safety.
But, during the process, Roberts bit one of the officers on his arm and spat at both.
He was eventually removed from the property in both arm and leg restraints.
Miss Gedrych said the officer who had been bitten needed treatment at Withybush Hospital and had to wait three months before being assured he had not contracted any blood-born diseases.
The court heard that Roberts had 81 previous convictions, including one for assaulting a police officer.
His barrister, David Lloyd, said Roberts had finally got to grips with his alcohol problems and had in fact given up completely.
Judge Paul Thomas said Roberts was guilty of drunken aggression and had a poor record.
Judge Thomas warned Roberts he had escaped jail by the skin of his teeth.
But instead he made a new style “intensive alternative to prison order” and placed Roberts under supervision for 18 months and ordered him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work for the community.
He was also instructed to attend drug counselling, an alcohol activity programme and a thinking skills course.
He will also be drug tested monthly.
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