Prison for drunken racial abuser who spat at police

Monday 09 January 2023

A 25-year-old man who drunkenly shouted racial abuse then hit and spat at a police officer in a bout of "disgraceful" behaviour has been sent to jail and banned from premises serving alcohol upon his release.

The Magistrate's Court heard this week that Police were called to an address in St. Clement at 21:50 on 22 October 2022, as Dane Walsh was outside swearing and shouting abuse at a black man.

"He [Walsh] was not wearing a shirt, despite it being October," Centenier Amanda Wright told the court.

Walsh, the court heard, was drunk and officers arrested him on suspicion of causing a breach of the peace. The Centenier said: "He tried to pull away and carried on shouting and swearing, and threatened to headbutt a police officer."

He was brought to the ground but threw a punch at an officer, hitting him in the mouth, and spat at him.

Pictured: Walsh was sentenced in the Magistrate's Court this week.

Walsh admitted the charges of assaulting a police officer, violently resisting arrest and acting in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace.

Advocate Mike Preston, defending, said: "Mr Walsh knows there was no excuse for his disgraceful behaviour. He takes full responsibility for it.

"He has expressed sincere remorse and has asked me to apologise for what he did."

The lawyer added that Walsh had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, and that since being released on police bail had stopped drinking and sought help from the Alcohol and Drugs Service.

Advocate Preston argued that prison would have a "disastrous effect" on Walsh's young family.

However, the presiding Magistrate, Bridget Shaw, sentenced him to seven months' imprisonment, and banned him from licensed premises for a year.