A serial crook has been given one last chance to stay out of prison after spitting at a police officer.
Mark Campbell, who has 250 offences to his name, was on a community order for assaulting a constable when he chose to target another one. A court heard that 41-year-old was outside a takeaway on Westmoreland Road, in Newcastle, when he started being aggressive and the police were called.
Drunk Campbell continued to be abusive and was arrested after being found in possession of cannabis. However, he spat at officers as he was led to the police van, prosecutors said.
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The career criminal, of Tebay Drive, in Slatyford, has now been given three months to stay out of trouble and comply with his community order after a judge decided to defer sentence following guilty pleas to assaulting an emergency worker, possession of a class B drug and being drunk and disorderly.
District Judge Paul Currer said: "I'm going to defer sentence for three months to see how you do on your order. If you don't cooperate, all sentencing options remain open, which includes prison. So, it's up to you to cooperate with the Probation Service and stay out of trouble."
Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard that police were called to Westmorland Road on May 9 this year following reports of a man acting aggressively. Lillian Yanes Hellevik, prosecuting, continued: "The defendant was drunk. Officers came to deal with him. He was difficult and would not go away. He was under the influence. Officers searched him and found cannabis. While being led to the police vehicle, he spat at an officer.
"The defendant has 130 convictions for 250 offences and was before the court in November 2021 for assaulting a police officer when he was made subject of a community order."
The court was told that there was no suggestion the spit had landed on the officer and that Campbell had lost his temper after suspecting someone had stolen his mobile phone.
Campbell was released on bail to appear back before the same court on September 23 for sentence.
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