Carlisle man who spat in face of PC is slammed by judge for “disgusting” crime
Norris admitted assaulting an emergency worker
A Carlisle man who spat in the face of a police officer while in custody earlier this week has been given a jail sentence.
Rhys Norris, aged 33, committed the offence yesterday (Thursday 18th December) at a time when two officers were working to ensure his safety and well-being.
Norris was threatening and verbally abusive to one PC on multiple occasions, before he spat in his face.
“I do not go to work to be assaulted,” the officer said in a statement. “I was simply trying to maintain Mr Norris’ health and welfare during his time in custody.”
At Carlisle Magistrates’ Court today (Friday 19th December), Norris admitted assaulting an emergency worker. He also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of theft having stolen goods valued at £15.61 from the One Stop store, Fusehill Street, Carlisle, on 22nd November.
The court heard Norris had since been recalled to custody on licence, having been given a 30-month prison sentence earlier this year for assaulting a woman and damaging her mobile phone.
For the more recent offending, district judge Philip Holden acknowledged the defendant’s remorse as he imposed an eight-week prison sentence. This term, the law dictates, will be served alongside Norris’ recall time in custody, not in addition to it.
Of the police assault, the judge told Norris: “Police officers are entitled to go to work and not be assaulted. What you did was particularly disgusting by spitting into a police officer’s face, and being generally abusive towards him.
“He will have understandably have been concerned about the prospect of disease transmission as a consequence of being spat at in the face.”