Arrested man spat in police van

A POLICE van and a cell had to be professionally cleaned after an arrested man repeatedly spat in them, a court was told.

David Thackery, of Downing Close, Ipswich appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates Court facing two charges of theft, one of resisting a police officer and one of criminal damage.

David Hutson, prosecuting, told the court Thackery, 19, had been arrested on October 1 after being seen stealing a jacket worth £279 from Marks and Spencer in Ipswich.

Thackery had appeared in court at an earlier hearing on October 2 where he pleaded guilty to the theft and was released on bail by magistrates.

Mr Hutson said Thackery went back into town on that day and stole a jacket worth £29.99 from TK Maxx. The police were called and he was arrested.

Mr Hutson said: "He was abusive and aggressive.

"He was spitting inside the van, which had to be professionally cleaned. He managed to cut himself in the cell and was spreading blood and spittle about and that had to be cleaned as well,"

Thackery admitted the charges and in mitigation Nigel Inniss said: "These offences were committed because of drugs, because he was suffering from withdrawal.

"It is grossly apparent that a lot of his behaviour that time was due to withdrawal of drugs."

Mr Inniss said Thackery had been kept in prison since October 4 and had been kept in a detox wing during that time.

Magistrate Robert Skinner told Thackery at Monday's hearing he could have faced a custodial sentence.

He said: "You could have gone to prison for these offences. However, we think the best course for you is a drug treatment and testing order for 12 months."

A drug treatment and testing order means Thackery must comply with regular drug tests for the next 12 months and with treatment, supervised by the Probation Service.

Thackery was also ordered to pay £13 compensation for a separate theft, a £91 fine for spitting in the police van and £100 costs.