Thug jailed after he spat at police in Sheffield with bloody saliva

Sheffield Crown Court heard on April 29 how Albert Barton, aged 54, of no fixed address, had made an unwanted visit to his daughter’s home in Sheffield when she alerted police.

James Baird, prosecuting, said: “The defendant’s daughter telephoned the police to say her father and another man were attempting to gain entry to her home and both were extremely intoxicated.”

Mr Baird added that Barton was also wanted on a prison recall for a previous matter and as the defendant was detained he spat in an officer’s face and it was feared the defendant had hepatitis.

A further officer came to help and Barton spat in their face, according to Mr Baird, and after the defendant was placed in a police vehicle he spat in a further officer’s face.

The court also heard how Barton was found with cannabis and later smeared food and faeces in his police cell.

Barton pleaded guilty to three counts of assaulting an emergency worker and Mr Baird added that the defendant also pleaded guilty to causing damage and possessing cannabis.

Richard Thyne, defending, said Barton is no longer hepatitis positive. He added the three assaults were part of a relatively short-lived incident which had started with drunken behaviour which deteriorated in a way it should not have done.

Judge David Dixon told Barton his behaviour was “absolutely appalling” particularly because when he spat at the officers he had blood in his saliva.

Barton was sentenced to 12-months of custody.