A thug who glassed a pubgoer, threatened his former partner, and spat at police officers during a “disgraceful” torrent of abuse has been jailed.
James Smith, 29, of Trencherbone, Radcliffe, was sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Tuesday, January 10 after pleading guilty to common assault, threats to commit criminal damage, and assaulting an emergency worker.
Prosecutor Helena Williams told the court how in September 2021 Smith was at his former partner’s home when he became aggressive towards the guests who were visiting.
Smith then turned his attention to his ex-partner, accusing her of sleeping with his friends and stealing his alcohol.
Smith’s former partner left the address and when she returned Smith threatened to “smash her head in” and “smash up” her flat.
In a victim impact statement, which was read to the court, Smith’s ex-partner said she was “scared to death” that Smith was going to hurt her.
The court then heard how in January 2022 police were called to a disturbance at a house in Hyde.
Smith flung open the door topless and blocked the officers from entering. He was physically restrained and taken to the ground.
While on the ground, Smith attempted to bite the foot of one of the officers and kick out before spitting two or three times forcing the officers to deploy a spit hood.
Smith was then carried to a police van to be sent to custody but was instead taken to hospital after appearing to pass out.
When he was in the hospital, he called the police officers “nonces” and said he hoped their children and family were raped, the prosecution said.
Police was later found that an internal door in the house where Smith was arrested had been broken, along with a kettle and a baby’s bottle.
The cost of the damage came to £230.
The court was then told how in May 2022 Smith was at a pub in Hyde when he hit a man sat at the bar on the side of a head with a glass causing one of the man’s teeth to come through his skin.
In mitigation, defence barrister Daniel Harman said Smith was suffering with mental health issues that he had not received medication for since 2009, had experienced a personal tragedy involving his daughter, and had a “major issue” with drinking.
He called for the judge to consider a suspended sentence as Smith had already spent time in custody following his arrest and did not want “to sit in prison” and then receive no support on his release.
Judge Mark Savill considered the points in mitigation but said the offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence was justified, calling the offences against the police officers a “disgraceful incident” of “vile abuse”.
Smith was sentenced to 22 months in prison and given a five-year restraining order and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £156.
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