Cop-spitter out of prison

No further jail time over assault on officer

A POLICE officer is reconsidering his career after he was spat on.

A 42-year-old man was sentenced to jail after biting and spitting at the 27-year-old constable.

Crown prosecutor Melanie Franklin told the Cairns District Court that the officer had been impacted significantly, especially because he had to undergo disease testing.

“To the extent that he is reconsidering his career and that is despite being accustomed to the unfortunate aspects of his policing role,” she said.

Yesterday Norman John Hall was sentenced to 223 days jail after pleading guilty to serious assault police causing bodily harm and serious assault police. He was released because he has already spent that time in pre-sentence custody.

“He’s already served more than enough time on remand,” Ms Franklin said. Hall has a 10-page criminal history which includes 20 public nuisance offences, as well as many failures to appear in court, stealing and assault charges.

The 42-year-old had been on an outstanding warrant when he was involved in a public nuisance disturbance early on August 2 last year. He bit the officer on the hand and then later spat on his chest while he was being arrested.

Defence barrister Rodney Curtin said Hall had been significantly affected by alcohol at the time, having drunk a large amount of full strength beer and rum in the 10 hours before the assault.

“Not that that’s any excuse it’s simply a fact of the matter,” Mr Curtin said. “He is certainly mortified and very remorseful for his actions.”

The court was told maximum penalty for charges is 14 years jail.

“That should give you some very clear indication of how serious these circumstances are,” Judge Dean Morzone said. “You must face up to the fact that you need to take some control over your alcohol intake.”

The court was told that while in custody Hall had made genuine efforts to address his drinking.

Judge Morzone urged Hall to continue those efforts. “Your drinking is a problem not only to you but to all of society,” Judge Morzone said.

TO THE EXTENT THAT HE IS RECONSIDERING HIS CAREER AND THAT IS DESPITE BEING ACCUSTOMED TO THE UNFORTUNATE ASPECTS OF HIS POLICING ROLE

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