Man threatened to bite off police officer’s nose
AN ARRESTED man threatened to bite a police officer’s nose off when asked to give his fingerprints.
Matthew Wainwright was taken to Huddersfield Police Station after drunkenly trespassing on the railway line. But he refused to cooperate with the PC’s request and made threats before spitting at the officer in the face.
The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to common assault of an emergency worker and faces sentencing next month.
Vanessa Jones, prosecuting, said that the incident at the Castlegate station happened in the early hours of September 19.
She told Kirklees magistrates: “The victim, a detention officer, was asked to fingerprint Mr Wainwright who had been brought in for being drunk and disorderly and trespassing on the railway.
“He was taken to the biometrics room and asked to place his hands on the scan machine and he refused.”
The officer was then given permission by his sergeant to use force to take Wainwright’s prints, the Huddersfield court was told.
Mrs Jones said: “He took hold of Mr Wainwright’s hands. Mr Wainwright told him he would not be taking his prints and he’d assault him given the chance.”
The machine eventually accepted Wainwright’s prints and he was taken to the booking in desk but he continued to be aggressive.
Mrs Jones said: “He told him [the officer] he’d bite his nose off and headbutt him given the chance. He stepped away but remained in the vicinity and spat at him, leaving spittle on his uniform and face.”
Magistrates were told that the officer’s ordeal left him feeling upset and in considerable distress.
Wainwright, of Leef Street in Moldgreen, said that he had been drinking a lot following the recent death of his grandma.
He told magistrates: “I woke up in the police station and hadn’t known I’d been on the train tracks or assaulted the police officer.”
Magistrates ordered a full probation report looking at issues including Wainwright’s alcohol problem. He will be sentenced on November 6 and was granted unconditional bail in the meantime.