A YOUNG man confronted by the police after a neighbour complained about noise coming from his home became agitated, biting an officer’s leg during efforts to restrain him.

Sean Borrowdale, 23, was at the time serving a community based sentence for driving while over the limit and disqualified.

At Carlisle’s Rickergate court, Borrowdale, of Croft Avenue, Shap, admitted a police assault and resisting arrest, having committed both offences on November 21.

Pam Ward, prosecuting, said police were called to an address in Shap after receiving a report of a possible domestic violence incident. Borrowdale was at the property, and his speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet.

“He appeared to be emotional,” said Mrs Ward.

When police asked others who were in the room to leave so they could speak to Borrowdale, he became agitated, though his brother intervened in an attempt to calm the defendant down, the court heard.

As more officers arrived at the house, Borrowdale – seeing those officers entering the back garden – locked the patio door. The situation escalated when Borrowdale was told he would have to go with the officers.

He was placed in a headlock while attempts were made to handcuff him but he resisted. It was during the struggle that he bit an officer on the leg, the court heard. Borrowdale also became aggressive again when he was being taken into custody.

The bitten officer said there was skin removed from his leg but he did not suffer any permanent injury, said Mrs Ward.

Duncan Campbell, mitigating, said the defendant was very sorry for what happened had had not intended to cause harm to anybody. “The police arrived at the address…. Certainly nobody there had called the police.

“The neighbours had contacted the police because they weren’t very happy about the noise emanating from this man’s house. The police arrived; they were not expected; and this man made it clear that nothing untoward had happened.”

Borrowdale accepted he had been drinking but he had been taken aback by the arrival of the police that day, said Mr Campbell.

“He was feeling rather surrounded,” said the lawyer, explaining that Borrowdale felt under “physical pressure.” But what happened had been a wake-up call and the defendant recognised alcohol was an issue for him.

He had been referred to Recovery Steps and he welcomed this.

Magistrates said the defendant’s criminal record – and the fact that Borrowdale was serving a community sentence - made the offending worse. There was also evidence that he had complied poorly with that order.

They imposed a 10 week jail term, suspended for one year. The sentence includes a fresh community order with 10 rehabilitation activity days. Borrowdale must pay £85 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

He must also pay £100 compensation to the officer he bit. The presiding magistrate noted his mental health concerns and that he is currently in employment, adding: “We believe there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.”