Judge decries ‘dirty habit’ of spitting at police
A judge has decried the “developing habit” of people spitting at police officers.
He imposed 150 hours of community work on a man who spat a mouthful of bloody saliva at the police officer who was arresting him after an assault at a barbecue.
Jason Blair Cameron, 22, will also have to pay $500 emotional harm reparations to both the police officer and the man he assaulted at the barbecue, and the judge placed him on supervision for a year.
Christchurch District Court Judge Alistair Garland said: “This is another of these cases where an offender engages in the habit of spitting at a police officer.
“That’s a dirty habit, and unfortunately it seems to be a developing habit. It places police officers at risk of infection from dangerous diseases.
“Fortunately, the officer didn’t contract any disease from you, but I have no doubt that the emotional harm that would have been caused to the police officer from the potential of contracting some disease would have been significant in this case.”
Cameron, a foreman digger operator, was at a barbecue in Swannanoa, in rural North Canterbury, on September 17 when he became extremely drunk and without warning tipped over the barbecue table with all the party-goers’ food and drinks.
He then grabbed the victim by the throat and punched him in the head. Cameron had to be restrained by the other people till the police arrived. He then spat the bloody saliva at the arresting officer.
The assault victim had a swollen eye and scratches on his throat.
Judge Garland was told that Cameron was remorseful, and had drunk no alcohol since the incident. He had no memory of the incident, and had been given an ultimatum by his partner about his drinking. She was in court to support him.
Judge Garland noted that he had three previous convictions for assault and one for wilful damage. In this case he had attacked a complete stranger with unprovoked and gratuitous violence.
Cameron had pleaded guilty to charges of Crimes Act assault and assault on the police.
Category: News
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
Connect
Connect with us via: