A dad who headbutted, bit and spat at police officers walked from court – as a judge told him he was ‘lucky’ not to be going to prison.

Jake Saxton, 26, lashed out with his teeth and forehead after police found him surrounded by empty beer cans as he looked after his young child in Abingdon on December 22 last year.

He went on to spit at the police officers, claiming he had coronavirus, then headbutted a car window as he was frogmarched from the house.

But Judge Michael Gledhill QC spared him an immediate prison sentence, noting he had no previous convictions and had a number of mental and physical health problems.

Imposing two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years, the judge said: “You were drunk, you were completely out of control and have used excessive violence towards those two officers, one of whom you left with a dislocated knuckle and fractured finger. That’s how appalling your behaviour was.

“You also attacked the other officer by using your head as a weapon and headbutting the officer. It’s really dreadful.

“You’ve used your teeth on a number of officers. You’ve bitten one of them through clothing causing bleeding. You’ve spat at officers, you used dreadful, dreadful language.”

Judge Gledhill added: “You are extremely lucky that you’re not going to prison today and I hope you and those who support you appreciate how lucky you have been.”

Saxton, of John Jones Close, Abingdon, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to two counts of causing actual bodily harm, four charges of assaulting an emergency worker and an allegation that he damaged a car. He had no previous convictions.

Mitigating, Peter du Feu said his client had an ‘extraordinary life story’. He had had a troubled childhood, had been diagnosed with autism and ADHD, his computer business had failed during the pandemic and he had briefly split from his partner.

“It is a terrible start in life. It doesn’t excuse for one minute what he did last December, but it maybe explains how somebody with such exemplary character [committed these offences],” he said.

Saxton was back with his partner, who was expecting their second child, was now taking medication and had a job lined up delivering takeaway food.

Judge Gledhill said Saxton’s mitigation had ‘saved’ him from going to prison. He stressed that he did not want any of the officers who’d been attacked by the Abingdon man to think he’d ‘got away with it’.

As part of the sentence, Saxton must do 140 hours of unpaid work, 40 rehabilitation days and pay £500 in costs and compensation.

 

Jake Saxton outside Oxford Crown Court

 

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