Man with “unstable personality disorder” spat at police officer

A MAN taken to hospital by police when no ambulance was available spat at one of the officers, a court has been told.

Thomas Squires, of Tanyrhodyn, Felinfoel, Llanelli, was helped by officers after a 999 call with concern to his welbeing on May 28.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty when he appeared at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Prosecutor Sian Vaughan said: “A 999 call was placed to the location where the defendant was and he had consumed a volume of alcohol and tablets.

“He was very intoxicated and drowsy.

“Officers attended and took him to Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli, as there was no ambulance available.

“He was quiet in the back of the car until they got the hospital and he refused help and didn’t want to get out.

“The defendant then walked up to one of the officers PC Matthew Harries, causing him to step back as he thought he was going to be pushed.

“He then spat at the officer with the spit making contact on his forearm.”

Mrs Vaughan added: “The officer was shocked and disgusted by the behaviour.

“The defendant was extremely agitated and had to be put into a room to calm down on his own at the hospital.”

She added Squires was subsequently not interviewed by police about the offence.

The court heard Squires was in breach of a community order, which came a month after another assault in April.

Defence solicitor Stephen John said Squires had “suffered throughout his adult life from spontaneous bouts of mental illness”.

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“This was one such episode,” he said. Mr John said he had an “unstable personality disorder.”

Adding: “He has no recollection of the incident and it was 100% down to his mental illness.

“As the court has heard, one minute he was quiet in the police car and then with a flick of switch, he changed.”

A report by the probation service said that Squires was “doing the best he can”, and was in regular contact with them.

Magistrates fined him £80 for the spitting assault on the police officer.

Along with £85 court costs £30 victim surcharge and £25 in compensation to the police officer. Elim