Jailed soldier spat in Blackpool police officer's face

A soldier spat directly into the face of a civilian detention officer looking after people in the cells at Blackpool police headquarters.
Blackpool Magistrates CourtBlackpool Magistrates Court
Blackpool Magistrates Court

Mark Shaw twice asked the officer if he could go – and when he spat through the cell hatch, saliva landed on the guard’s left eye.

Shaw, 22, of Bangor Avenue, Bispham, who is a Kingsman in the infantry based in Cyprus, pleaded guilty to assault.

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He was fined £365 with £85 costs and ordered to pay £150 compensation with £36 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Presiding magistrate, Ian Robertson, told him:”This was quite nasty.

“Spitting we do not like. It is very unpleasant.”

Sarah Perkins, prosecuting, said Shaw was in the cells at Blackpool in the early hours on August 6 when he rang the buzzer and a civilian detention officer opened the hatch to his cell.

The court was told that after twice asking: “Can I go,” he spat in the officer’s face. The officer reported the matter to his manager and said: “I do not expect to be the subject of disgusting behaviour like this while I am working.”

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Shaw, who had two previous convictions for assault as a youth, told magistrates he had been on leave at the time and been drinking before committing the offence.

He added:”It was a disgusting action and I regret it.”