A WAGGA man who spat into the mouth of a police officer, spat on two others and assaulted them during a violent arrest has been jailed.
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Noel William Collins, 21, of Tolland, was sentenced in Wagga Local Court after pleading guilty to 14 offences committed on three different occasions in November, December and January.
Good behaviour bonds Collins was placed on for 10 other crimes as far back as 2012 were revoked as a consequence of the latest convictions.
Police called to a Tolland house on January 13 found Collins wrestling with a female on the floor.
In the next furious and violent minutes as police tried to arrest Collins he punched one female officer under the left eye, elbowed her in the jaw, spat in her colleague’s face and bit both her wrists and spat on the shirts of both officers.
Even a burst of capsicum spray in Collins’s face failed to stop his violent resistance.
When police finally had him under control and were taking him to the paddy wagon, Collins spat into the face of a sergeant, with the saliva landing in her mouth, according to undisputed facts tendered to the court.
At the police station, Collins repeatedly punched a perspex wall.
Collins, who has already been in custody almost five months, was jailed to at least September 12 by magistrate Erin Kennedy.
She described spitting at police as abhorrent.
“You might think these people sign up for this kind of thing in their daily life, but they don’t, and the community will not put up with that behaviour,” Ms Kennedy said.
Police in their facts sheet said Collins had an extensive criminal history and had no regard for the law.
Collins was given concurrent jail sentences for assaulting his mother in her home and smashing walls November 17.
“I’m going to get your head kicked in … I hope you die,” Collins said to his mother.
He was also jailed for a rant on December 29 during which he damaged a fence, contravened an apprehended violence order and threatened to kill his father.
In her submission, Collins’s solicitor Hilary Russell said her client had drug use issues and suffered from a violent upbringing.
She said he had sought out mental health care in custody but had experienced difficulties in seeing a psychiatrist.
Ms Russell said Collins recognised the “true evil of ice”. “He recognises he is wasting his life; they were his words,” Ms Russell said.