A man who spat blood at police and racially abused another has been jailed, despite the best efforts of his defence team to avoid a prison term.
Aaron Black (24), with an address at Linenhall Street, Armagh, appeared before the City’s Magistrates’ Court – sitting in Newry – on Tuesday, charged with four counts of assault on police, disorderly behaviour, and criminal damage.
The public prosecutor told the court that on Friday, April 25, police received a third-party report of a domestic incident at a property in the Banbrook Hill area of Armagh.
As a result of the call, police entered the property through the rear door, where they were greeted by Black, who immediately became abusive towards them, demanding that they leave.
Attempts were made to explain why police were there, but to no avail.
Officers then attempted to place him in handcuffs, at which point he became extremely aggressive.
Due to his behaviour, police had to restrain him on a bed. After a few minutes of struggle, handcuffs were applied, and Black was sat up, but he continued to be aggressive.
At this point, he spat blood and saliva at an officer. He also attempted to headbutt another officer before kicking him.
Black was then escorted from the property, and when police attempted to place him in the back of the patrol car, he kicked out and damaged the rear-view mirror of the vehicle. Again, he spat at two police officers during the struggle.
Police took Black to Craigavon Area Hospital due to a small laceration on his head. Whilst en route, he continually abused police, calling one officer a “P**i” numerous times.
At A&E, he continued to shout and swear in the presence of members of the public and was heard shouting “black b****s” and “P**i” repeatedly.
During interview, Black made full admissions and stated that “he knew he had done wrong”.
Black’s defence barrister stated that he thought “the writing was on the wall” and that “there was absolutely no chance” Probation would continue to engage with the defendant. However, the Probation officer “actually surprised me with her reaction”.
He remarked: “You’ll see from that report, as short as it is… that despite these sets of offences, she would still continue to work with him.”
The lawyer said this was the first time Black has “ever made a go at trying to help himself”.
District Judge Anne Marshall queried: “Does [the Probation officer] know about him spitting blood and saliva on the faces of officers, as well as the racial abuse?”
She continued: “Look, the writing is all over the wall for Mr Black. His anger management hasn’t reached a point yet where it is working.
“I can do nothing other than impose a custodial sentence on somebody who got a suspended sentence for assault on police, disorderly behaviour, and criminal damage — the exact same offences as today — not even a month before he reoffends again. There’s absolutely no alternative here.
“I’ll give credit for his plea, but the facts in this case are terrible.”
Black was handed five months’ immediate custody along with a £25 offender levy.
Judge Marshall also activated a three-month suspended sentence to run consecutively, totalling eight months behind bars. A second suspended sentence of two months was also activated to run concurrently.
She advised Black’s counsel to seek an extension to the Probation Order upon his release “so there is support there for him on release”.
