PC HAD ‘BLEACH’ SQUIRTED IN HIS FACE

TEENAGER David Jepson assaulted a police officer by squirting a cleaning product in his face.

Police had been called to a ‘domestic incident’ involving Jepson at a property in Sneyd Green.

They found the 19-year-old ‘clearly intoxicated’ and ‘distressed’.

Officers stayed at the scene for a significant time trying to engage with Jepson, inset, after which the teenager squirted floor cleaner – which contained bleach – into a constable’s face.

Magistrates heard the victim was left with bloodshot, stinging eyes.

Prosecutor Emma Thompson said: “In the early hours of May 5, police were called to a domestic incident at an address in East Crescent. When the arrived, this defendant was in the living room. He was extremely intoxicated. He threatened to harm himself. Officers tried to engage with him for some considerable time.

At 3.20am he picked up a Flash floor cleaner, which contained bleach, and threw it into the face of an officer. He also attempted to drink the floor cleaner before spitting it out.

“The officer suffered minor injuries – his eyes were stinging and were left bloodshot. He managed to remove the substance from his eyes with water.”

Jepson, of East Crescent, Sneyd Green, was arrested. In interview, he admitted he had been drunk and said he could not remember the incident. He pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker.

Tac Hussain, mitigating, said Jepson had mental health issues. “He suffers from complex PTSD and trauma.

“He struggles with poor behavioural controls. He drinks a lot. This has led to a chaotic lifestyle.”

Magistrates agreed to Mr Hussain’s request and ordered the Probation Service to interview Jepson and prepare a report for the next hearing. Jepson will be sentenced on June 15.