Liam Christian, of Kirkland View, Kendal, pleaded guilty to assault by beating of an emergency worker, criminal damage and attempted criminal damage at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court on June 25.
Prosecutor Peter Kelly outlined the facts of the case.
He said: “The complainant was at his home address in Kendal at 7:30 pm when he heard a loud bang from the street.
“He saw the defendant punch out towards his passenger’s side car window. He also witnessed him punch out towards another stranger’s car. The damage to his car cost around £200 to repair. Matters were then reported to the police.”
The court heard police attended the defendant’s home address to arrest him. Whilst doing so, Mr Kelly said Christian kicked out at the officer, which caused him ‘pain and discomfort’.
Christian, 29, then threatened to spit at the officer when being placed in the police cell, the court was told.
Mr Kelly said the defendant had 21 previous offences against a person – including five for violence damages to property. He was last before the court in July last year.
In mitigation, defence solicitor David Mannering said: “It is an unfortunate sequence of events. He had been staying out of trouble. He’d had a drink with his friends and his recollection of the incidents is patchy. He had just changed his medication.
“He believes he was acting strangely that night because of the combination of his medication and alcohol.
“He has an unenviable record of previous convictions, but his offending is slowing. Last year, there was a spate of offending in a short period of time. He needs to get help with his drinking.”
The court heard the defendant had not been engaging with the probation service and that he was not ‘motivated to address any issues’.
Magistrates jailed the defendant for 12 weeks because they ‘could not see any other alternative’.
