Thug jailed after attacking police
A serial thug has been put behind bars for attacks on police including one that targeted three officers at once.
ClintonBarnesbit,choked, punched and kicked a total of four constables during two separate shocking outbursts.
Newcastle Crown Court heard on July 9, 2020, Barnes lashedoutwhenhewastoldhe would be searched and bit and kicked a male officer during a struggle in the street.
While out on bail for that, Barnes attacked three officers who had responded to a call about two men kicking the door of a house on New Year's Day this year.
During the violence, one officer was punched to the mouth and then choked, a female officer was kicked in the head and wrist and a third was repeatedly kicked.
The moments before the New Years' Day assaults were caught one of the officer's body-worn camera and show Barnes acting aggressively before he attacked.
Barnes,39,ofCaldewCourt, EasingtonLane,whohaspreviousconvictionsfor20assaults, including six on police, admitted four charges of assault on an emergency worker.
Judge Edward Bindloss sentenced him to 16 months behind bars.
Prosecutor Jane Foley said the first attack, in July 2020, happened after police were alerted to a report of two men "staggering around" a nearby road.
The officers approached the men and when Barnes was asked if he was carrying anything, he replied: "Everything, pins,sharps,smackandcrack."
Barnes reacted aggressively when told he would be searched and ended up on the ground with a male officer.
Miss Foley said: "During the struggle the officer's arm became lodged underneath the defendant. The officer felt pressure and immediate pain in his right forearm. He knew he had been bitten."
The court heard after Barnes was taken to his feet and handcuffed he kicked the same officer in the shin.
Miss Foley said the officer's skinwasbrokenbythebiteand he was given antibiotics.
He said in a statement the attackwasmade"muchworse" as it happened during the pandemic.
Thecourtheardthesecond attack on New Year's Day happenedwhenpolicewerecalled to a report of men kicking the door of a house.
Barnes became aggressive and shouted threats at the officers then pushed a female constable backwards with both hands.
Miss Foley said: "The moment he did that other officers grabbed him and took him to the floor. He was resisting arrest and aggressive throughout.
"During the course of trying to restrain him, a PC was punchedtothemouth,causing his lip to burst. The defendant then proceeded to grab the officerbythethroatandattempted to choke him."
Miss Foley added: "While the defendant was assaulting that officer, he was simultaneously kicking out another officer, making contact with her head on four or five occasions, causing her to feel dizzy."
The officer, left with a boot mark on her wrist, suffered headaches and stated she goes to work to do her job and help peoplewhoarevulnerable,not to be assaulted.
A third officer was also kicked while Barnes lashed out but was not injured.
Fiona Lamb, defending, said Barnes had hoped to do anger management and educational courses while in custody but was unable to.