Troubled alcoholic spat at police officers after damaging vehicles
AYOUNG alcoholic in the grip of a mental health crisis told police he wanted to be arrested before damaging several cars.
And after getting his wish and being taken into custody, Liam Prosser spat at three police officers.
A judge at Bristol Crown Court heard Prosser felt he had a genetic addiction to booze, and the judge said Prosser needed to stop drinking for the rest of his life.
Prosser, 22, of The Park in Kingswood, pleaded guilty to three charges of assaulting an emergency worker and three charges of criminal damage.
Judge Julian Lambert handed him four months’ prison suspended for two years.
He told Prosser: “The only way you are going to have a future is for you to never, ever drink and never ever take drugs. You can now see what it does to people.”
The judge handed Prosser a 12-month alcohol treatment requirement as well as a thinking skills programme and 26 days’ rehabilitation.
Alun Williams, prosecuting, said Prosser rang police and said he was going to damage vehicles because he wanted to be arrested and because of how he felt.
He then rang back and confirmed he had damaged several cars in Clandown, in north east Somerset.
Prosser was compliant when arrested, the court heard.
But having been taken into custody he verbally abused officers before spitting in PC Richard Grant’s face as well as spitting at PCs Holly Roberts and Gavin Ring. PC Grant made a statement describing how being spat at was “vile”, and during the coronavirus pandemic could be potentially lifethreatening.
PC Roberts described the “disgust and fear” she saw in PC Grant’s face.
Car owner Lucy Hodges also made a statement, saying Prosser smashed the window of her car and she feared glass had gone into a child seat.
Charley Pattison, defending, said her client believed his alcohol addition was genetic.
She said he was not thinking properly at the time and was in the grip of depression and paranoia.
Miss Pattison said: “When not in the grip of these he is an extremely pleasant, polite and friendly young man.”
She said the catalyst for the offending was a drunken argument Prosser had with someone who was a negative influence on him.