Man Jailed After Spitting At Police Officer And Threatening To Kill Her In Brighton

Thursday, 18 June 2020 13:09

A man who caused a disturbance spat at a police officer and threatened to kill her in Brighton on Sunday (14) has been jailed for eight weeks.

Police said Ashley Thompson was found at a flat in The Strand at Brighton Marina after he had allegedly assaulted four people in the flat, and then kicked a security guard in the head as they tried to restrain him outside.

When police officers went to arrest him, he shouted and swore and made homophobic comments towards one of the officers and then spat at her body worn video camera, before threatening to kill her if she called for a van to take him to custody.

Thompson, 36, of Bromley Road, Brighton, appeared before Brighton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (16) and pleaded guilty to assault by beating of an emergency worker, common assault of an emergency worker and using threatening, abusive behaviour likely to cause alarm and distress.

Thompson was given an eight-week custodial sentence due to his recording of reoffending and the seriousness of the offences including spitting at a police officer, which was disgusting and unhygienic, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chief Inspector Roy Hodder said:

“Our officers are not just police officers they are also part of the community. They will often go above and beyond to protect and serve the public.

"They come from many different backgrounds and they do not deserve to be abused and assaulted in the line of duty.

“We won’t tolerate this behaviour and I would like to send a clear message to those who act in this way that you will face the full force of the law."

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