A HEROIN addict who bit a policeman, racially abused him and spat at a female custody detention officer – as well as flooding his cell – was jailed.

Prolific thief Tyrone Gibson also urinated on the floor at Newport Central police station after he was arrested for shoplifting.

Prosecutor Richard Ace told Cardiff Crown Court how the 41-year-old was held by staff and security guards at Smyths Toys in Mendalgief Retail Park.

They had detained him and called the police after Gibson tried to steal Lego worth £139.99 on January 11.

Mr Ace told the judge, Recorder Catherine Richards, how the defendant, of Clarence Place, Newport, was “obstructive and aggressive” while he was taken into custody.

The court heard how he also insulted an officer with ginger hair and asked for his handcuffs to be taken off so he could fight Police Constable Billal Hannan after using racial slurs to abuse him and biting his arm.

He also used derogatory terms to insult the female custody officer.

Gibson pleaded guilty to assaulting three emergency service workers, using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour that was racially aggravated, theft, damaging property and being in breach of a community order.

Mr Ace said that the defendant had 33 previous convictions for theft offences that included burglary.

Scott Bowen, mitigating, said his client had “expressed genuine remorse” for his “abhorrent behaviour for which there is no excuse”.

He told the judge: “The defendant is someone who has been battling with addiction to class A drugs for a considerable period of time.”

Mr Bowen added that on the day of his offending Gibson had been going “cold turkey” from heroin but had decided to go out and shoplift so that he could then buy drugs.

He said that the defendant was so well-known to officers at Newport Central police station that he was on first name terms with some and wanted to apologise to those he assaulted.
Jailing him for nine months, Recorder Richards told Gibson his behaviour had been “disgraceful”.

She said his offending had "wasted scarce police resources”.

The judge added: “Spitting and biting is degrading and a worry for officers with your history of drug use.”