Darlington burglar pepper sprayed police officer in face

Simon Allen was recognised after he was caught on CCTV as he burgled the home of a former partner in Darlington and stole a medal and cash.

The 50-year-old wrestled with the officer before using the pepper spray to escape his grasp, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Gareth Henderson-Moore, prosecuting, said the defendant was caught by another police officer shortly after.

He said: “The defendant is known to the owner because he was in a relationship with the complainant’s daughter for a number of years and that was how he was identified.

“The house was not occupied at the time, and when she returned, she discovered she had been burgled and a medal and £20 in cash had been stolen.”

Dealing with the assault on the police officer, Mr Henderson-Moore added: “An officer sighted him and attempted to make an arrest. The defendant resisted this and there was a violent struggle after a short chase.

“The defendant removed the officer’s pepper spray from his belt and sprayed him in the face with it, before making off.”

Simon Allen (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Allen, formerly of Darlington, pleaded guilty to burglary on March 13 on the house on Victoria Embankment, assaulting an emergency worker, possession of prohibited firearm and discharging a noxious substance on March 18.

Liam O’Brien, mitigating, said his client had struggled with a significant drug problem for the majority of his adult life after first taking crack cocaine as a 14-year-old.

He added: “He has struggled with drug misuse issues throughout his life. That’s not an excuse and is certainly less of an excuse now that he is in his 50s.

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“This just adds to the context that I ask your honour to take into account when deciding on what the shortest possible sentence is for him.”

Judge Richard Clews jailed Allen for a total of 32 months for all offences.

He said: “I accept that I opportunistically seized the officer’s pepper spray out of his belt and then sprayed him with it before making your escape.

“Although the item is classed as a firearm and although its contents are a noxious substance it is not in my view as bad a case as those words make it sound.”