A DRUG addict who was caught gorging on stolen chocolate narrowly avoided jail after assaulting a police officer who tried to arrest him.

Neville Baxter called paramedics to his Darlington flat on June 22 where he was found eating £22.80 worth of chocolate bars and biscuits he'd stolen from Sainsbury’s earlier that day.

The 37-year-old, of Victoria Road, then assaulted a police officer who came to help the paramedics.

Baxter pleaded guilty to six charges at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates, which included sending false messages and failing to surrender to police.

John Russell, prosecuting, said Baxter was abusive to the 999 call handler when he requested an ambulance at 12.50pm and when paramedics and police arrived he appeared fit and well.

Despite being given a verbal warning for misusing the service, he requested another ambulance at 2.10pm before stealing the chocolates from Sainsbury’s at about 3.15pm.

Mr Russell said: "Approaching 3.45pm an ambulance attended following the call at 2.10pm and the paramedic approached and found the front door ajar.

"He [Baxter] was sat on the stairs behind the front door and when asked he denied he had requested an ambulance and was abusive to the emergency care assistant.

"He was eating some chocolate and neither paramedic could see any injury."

Mr Russell said the police later had to force entry after the front door had been locked.

Baxter, who has 43 previous convictions, was then aggressive to the two and had to be tasared after throwing a metal washing stand at them.

Mr Russell said Baxter had admitted stealing the chocolate from Sainsbury’s and decided to eat some of it after not being able to sell it.

Probation officer, Hilary Payne, said Baxter had been using cannabis since he was 14 and heroin since he was 19 which had led to psychosis and mental health issues.

Callum Terry, mitigating, said his client had no recollection of the incident.

"He's clearly not in a good place, he's got mental health problems which would explain why he behaved in the manner that he did," he said.

Magistrate, Ruth Dent, said: "You are appearing on a string of offences and I know you have your bags packed for prison but we are going to give you one last chance."

Mrs Dent sentenced Baxter to six months in prison suspended for 12 months and also fined him £172.80 which included repaying Sainsbury’s for the stolen chocolate.