Stab victim’s threat to bite police officer
A stabbing victim told a police officer he would ‘bite his nose off ’ because he was worried about being handcuffed after his own mother called police.
Magistrates heard Aron Graham, 21, who was badly injured when he was stabbed in the arm earlier this year, was ‘spitting and growling’ when he thought police would be heavy-handed and cause him pain when they detained him.
OmarAhmad,prosecuting, told Sunderland Magistrates Court that Graham’s mother calledpoliceat12.30amonJune 9,afterhehadbeendrinkingat herhomeinRobinsonTerrace, Columbia, Washington.
Mr Ahmad said: “Officers attended following a report from a female about trouble with her son. On arrival, they found the defendant upstairs sitting on a couch with his top off.”
Mr Ahmad said Graham swore at police and warned that they would be unable to handle him if he ‘kicked off ’.
He said: “He began shouting aggressively at his mother. The officers feared for his motherduetothethreatening words and demeanour of the defendant and placed handcuffs on his left wrist.
“He leapt to his feet and began to struggle and scream and appeared to aim a headbutt in his direction. He was extremely aggressive – spitting and growling.”
MrAhmadadded:“Thedefendant made threats against the officer’s family. He said ‘takethiscuffofforI’llbityour nose clean off ’.”
Graham, of Collingwood Court, Sulgrave, Washington, pleadedguiltytoresistingapolice officer.
A matter of breaching the peace was discontinued.
Phillipa Wylie, defending, said:“Hehasquiteasignificant injury to his arm after he was stabbed in January, severing an artery.
“Whenpoliceofficerstook holdofhimitcausedhimpain in his arm. This is what triggered it, the police officers havebeendragginghimabout.
“He was taken to hospital afterhewastakentothepolice station, because he started to fit.”
District Judge Roger Elsey said: “You have a significant recordforoffencesofviolence and disorderly behaviour, It is clear the custodial sentence that you served has not changed your behaviour.
“It seems to me that intervention is required so you reflect on the harm you cause to others to change that behaviour.”
Graham was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 20 days’ rehabilitation activityrequirement,andwas told to pay £85 costs and a £85 surcharge.
Judge Elsey told him: “If you don’t want to be handcuffed,thendon’tcommitany offences.”