A HEAVILY intoxicated man who attempted to drive off in van with a terrified teenage girl in the passenger seat didn’t get far when he failed to take the handbrake off.

Once his attempted escape came to nothing, Jordan Cane then started threatening people with a knife before biting and spitting at police when they arrested him.

The 27-year-old was eventually forced to the ground while a spit-hood was placed over his head to prevent any more officers being covered in his spittle.

The Northern Echo: Jordan CaneJordan Cane

Teesside Crown Court heard how it all kicked off at around 5.30pm on April 23 when the van’s owner parked up outside a shop in Carlin How, east Cleveland, leaving his teenage daughter inside listening to music.

Nicholas Mitchell, prosecuting, said Cane jumped into the driver’s seat shouting ‘I’m not asking, I’m telling you, you are taking me to Brotton’ before attempting to drive away but stalling before he had moved a few feet.

The court heard how the van owner managed to grab the keys out of the van before Cane went to a nearby house to grab a knife and started to threaten people, shouting ‘I’m going to stab you. I’m going to slice your daughter up’.

When police arrived at the scene Cane refused to go quietly and started to resist arrest, Mr Mitchell said.

Mr Mitchell said the defendant attempted to bite one of the officers before he was forced to the ground and pepper spray was used on him.

He added: "That having happened, the defendant then spat full in the face of the officer who used the spray. He describes in his victim impact statement, the affect of the defendant's spittle in his eyes and running down into his mouth."

Cane, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to affray, two charges of assaulting an emergency worker and taking a vehicle without the owner's consent.

Gary Wood, in mitigation, said his client was 'deeply apologetic, embarrassed and disgusted by his behaviour'.

Judge Recorder Jamie Hill QC sentenced Cane to a total of two years and three months.

He said: "Your behaviour was erratic; it was terrifying for a 14-year-old girl; it was entirely unnecessary.

"You stood your ground and issued threats when you were challenged.

"I have heard the aftermath and the sorry circumstances of your arrest when you were threatening to the police officers – spitting in the face of one while trying to bite the hand of another."