Shropshire drug addict given one last chance by court after assault

Jonathan Beatty-Thomas, 24, of no fixed address, admitted breaching an anti-social behaviour order, damaging the inside of a police car, and assaulting a community support officer in Church Stretton on Saturday.

He also admitted assaulting another CSO in October, as well as trespassing on a railway line and stealing a bottle of Lambrini from Home Bargains in Shrewsbury.

Telford magistrates sentenced him to four months in prison for breaching the ASBO and two months for assaulting the police office, to run consecutively. He was also sentenced to one month, to run concurrently, for criminal damage, assaulting a CSO and theft.

But the sentence was suspended for 12 months, on condition that he is supervised by the probation service and completes a nine-month drug rehabilitation referral.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £80 victim surcharge.

Mr Mike Phillips, prosecuting, said officers responding to reports that Beatty-Thomas was causing a disturbance in Church Stretton said he became aggressive and abusive, and was obviously drunk.

He was shouting and swearing at the police and when they tried to restrain him, he spat at them and kicked at the officer.

He was arrested and put into the back of a police car, where he continued to spit and be abusive. He then bit an officer on the arm, causing reddening.

Mr Dean Easthope, defending, said Beatty-Thomas was already subject to a community order with a drug rehabilitation condition.

He said he was complying well with the drug order and probation service. He said prison sentences and alcohol treatment in the past had not worked, but the current order had made a difference.

He added: "He needs a chance to get out of this rut and get off drugs and drink. It's a regrettable situation which he apologises for. It's not something he's proud of and it's something he's trying to get out of."