A man who spat blood at a police officer in Spofforth has avoided jail.

Chris McDonald, 39, who gave an address in Great Lumley, County Durham, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (June 4) where he spoke to confirm his name, age and address.

McDonald, who previously pleaded guilty to an assault on a police officer at an earlier hearing, also faced separate charges of failing to provide a specimen for analysis and driving without insurance.

Atifa Zamir, prosecuting, told the court police were asked to attend an incident at a pub in Spofforth at around 9.20pm on February 20.

The caller told police McDonald, who was in the pub at the time, was very drunk and refusing to leave.

He smashed a glass on the pub’s floor and threatened other customers.

When police arrived, McDonald became “agitated and aggressive”, telling an officer to “go f*** yourself”.

He also called an officer a homophobic slur, the court heard.

McDonald was taken to hospital but he was told he would be treated outside due to a lack of space and him being aggressive.

The defendant refused treatment, however, and proceeded to use a racial slur, which a doctor overheard, the court was told.

McDonald also admitted separate charges for failing to provide a specimen for analysis and driving without insurance in Wakefield on March 22 this year.

The court heard McDonald then resisted arrest and threatened a named police officer, who was “worried about violence” being used against him.

When McDonald was placed in handcuffs, he told the officer he would “smash his head in”.

The prosecution said McDonald then began hitting his head against the cage while in the police van.

He then spat blood at the named officer.

Early guilty plea

Ben Harding, defending, said the 39-year-old pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and should receive “full credit” for doing so.

Mr Harding told the court that he had been going through a difficult period personally and suffers from PTSD, anxiety and depression. 

He added that McDonald was not racist or homophobic and he knew his use of language was wrong.

Magistrates sentenced McDonald to a 16-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months for the assault on a police officer.

He was also ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation to the officer.

McDonald was also sentenced to an eight-week suspended prison sentence for failing to provide a specimen, which will run consecutively with his other prison sentence.

Magistrates also disqualified him from driving for 31 months and endorsed his licence.

McDonald was also ordered to pay £154 victims’ surcharge and £85 in court costs.