Drunken man spat blood at a policewoman, racially abused another officer and urinated and smeared blood around a cell in Leamington

A drunken man spat blood at a policewoman, racially abused another officer and urinated and smeared blood around a cell at Leamington police station after he had been arrested.

And at Warwick Crown Court, Duljit Kandola was jailed for eight months for his offences, which began with an incident at the Plough and Harrow pub in Whitnash.

Kandola (51), who gave his address as Markham Drive, Whitnash, had pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment, assaulting emergency workers and causing criminal damage.

Prosecutor Olivia Whitworth said that on March 13 last year the police had a 999 call about a man, Kandola, being abusive at the Plough and Harrow.

When a female officer and a male colleague arrived and spoke to Kandola, he began breathing heavily into her face, trying to deliberately spray blood and saliva in his breath.

And Judge Andrew Lockhart QC observed: “This was ten days before the imposing of the first lockdown, when the lockdown was imminent.”

As a result of his behaviour, said Miss Whitworth, the officers decided to handcuff him, at which Kandola kicked the male officer to his leg, so he was taken to the ground.

But despite the landlady’s attempts to ask him to calm down, Kandola punched out at the male officer and tried to spit blood into his face and to bite him – so a spit hood was placed over his head.

He continued to struggle and kicked the female officer to her leg, so a call was made for back-up.

Other officers arrived, but Kandola continued to resist arrest, spitting blood at one officer and shouting abuse at them, said Miss Whitworth, who commented: “His language was vile and unacceptable.”

Then while in custody at Leamington police station, Kandola smeared blood on the walls and door and urinated on the floor, as a result of which the cell had to undergo a deep clean.

Balraj Bhatia QC, defending, said: “He is horribly appalled and ashamed about his behaviour. The 13th of March 2020 will remain with him for a significant period of time.”

Mr Bhatia said Kandola had travelled from Edinburgh, where he works as an IT specialist, to stay with his sister in Leamington to remember their father who had died in 2018.

He had been drinking and went out to buy more alcohol, going to the Plough and Harrow, which his father used to frequent, to ‘raise a glass’ to him.

“His behaviour can only be described as bizarre. He is not used to strong alcohol. He was asked to leave and behaved, as he now accepts, in an unreasonable and belligerent manner.

“What happened, happened fast, and it is conceded he behaved badly.”

Mr Bhatia argued that there had been ‘a heavy-handed approach’ towards Kandola, but conceded: “His behaviour would undoubtedly cause concern to the police.

“He is appalled and ashamed. He has been so ashamed of this that he has not dared even to tell his sister.”

Because he had been too ashamed to tell anyone, he did not have any references to put before the court, but arguing for a suspended sentence, Mr Bhatia added: “There are people who would say this is horribly out of character.”

But jailing Kandola, Judge Lockhart told him: “This was ten days before the lockdown, when the country was in the grip of a pandemic. You had to be placed into a spit hood because you were spitting blood.

“I am afraid I find myself absolutely certain that appropriate punishment can only be met by immediate custody in this case.”