Jail sentence for Whitehead man who spat in police officer's face
A Whitehead man who spat in a police officer's face has received a jail sentence.
Steven Andrew Close (38), of Ballystrudder Road, also kicked the officer in the face on February 7 this year. The defendant also caused criminal damage to a cell van on that date.
He was also sentenced for harassment of a man between January 26 and February 7 this year.
Ballymena Magistrates Court was told there had been "abusive and quite threatening messages".
District Judge Nigel Broderick said the court has "zero tolerance" for those who spit in the faces of police officers and kick them to the head.
The defendant, who had a record, was jailed for four months and a two-year Restraining Order was also put in place.
The defendant had bail of £500 fixed for appeal along with a £500 surety. He is not to have any contact with the man he was convicted of harassing and he is not to enter Whitehead.