A MAN who spat in the face of a police officer has been jailed.

Gary Haswell is now starting a 32-week prison sentence following the incident in Pelton on Wednesday.

Officers were called to a disturbance in Alexandra Street at around 12.30pm and when Haswell was spoken to, he spat directly into an officer’s face.

The 34-year-old was taken to hospital where Haswell also made threats to head butt another officer and spat at him.

The spit landed on the officer’s trousers and the treatment room door which had to be deep cleaned and deprived other patients of the room while this was carried out.

Haswell, of George Street, Chester-le-Street, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting an emergency worker and one of criminal damage when he appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court by videolink.

Detective Constable Mal Ord, of Durham Police said: “Officers are regularly putting their own lives at risk to protect our communities and keep people safe.

“They should never have to face abuse or assaults while simply doing their job – this type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”