A MAN has been jailed after he spat towards a police officer.

Reuben Junior Charles, 53, committed the assault at Bournemouth custody centre, having been arrested for an unrelated matter.

The incident took place when Charles became agitated and spat at the officer through a cell hatch on September 5 last year.

He was charged with assaulting an emergency worker and appeared at Poole Magistrates’ Court on May 5.

Charles pleaded guilty to the offence as well as a breach of a conditional discharge order made by magistrates’ in August 2020 for being drunk and disorderly and possessing class B drugs.

The defendant, of Muscliffe Road, Bournemouth, was jailed for 16 weeks and ordered to pay £150 compensation to the police constable.

District Judge Stephen Nicholls noted the seriousness of the offence, with Charles spitting towards the officer during the course of the Covid pandemic.

No action was taken by the courts in relation to the conditional discharge order breach.

In a statement after the hearing, Dorset Police Chief Constable James Vaughan told the Daily Echo: “Our officers and staff demonstrate commitment, courage and dedication on a daily basis.

“They signed up to help protect the public, not to come into work each day with the risk of being assaulted, attacked or verbally abused. Spitting at officers is particularly abhorrent during the public health emergency we are all facing.

“The impact such assaults can have on our officers and staff, their colleagues and their families can have serious consequences and we will do all we can to bring criminal proceedings against those responsible.”

Dorset Police Federation chair Anna Harvey once again voiced her concerns over if the prison sentence issued was an adequate punishment.

As reported, Ms Harvey labelled a 10-week custodial term handed down in a separate case as “appalling”.

She said: “I welcome the news that the defendant has been given a custodial sentence, however I do question the length of sentence of just 16 weeks.

“I understand that judges have sentencing guidelines, however these disgusting types of incidents on our police officers are increasing and what we need to see is a true deterrent.

“Assaults like spitting place our officers at severe risk, especially during the Covid pandemic. Police officers have families and loved ones, they shouldn’t come to work expecting to be assaulted.”