A man assaulted two prison officers because he was unhappy with his “undesirable” new cell mate.

Ali Shah, of Buxton House in Huddersfield town centre, admitted attacking the staff while he was serving a custodial sentence at HMP Leeds.

He later assaulted two police constables as they arrested him for refusing to leave St Peter’s Gardens in the town centre.

Kirklees magistrates heard that a Criminal Behaviour Order is being sought to deter the 24-year-old from any future anti-social behaviour in the town.

Shah assaulted the prison officers on May 21, the court heard.

Alex Bozman, prosecuting, said: “He wasn’t happy with his new cell mate and became aggressive towards the officers.

“He was refusing to go back into his cell, they suggested moving him to another unoccupied cell but he refused that as well.

“Then he spat at one of the officers, lunged forward and ripped his shirt.

“Three other colleagues came to assist and Mr Shah spat on the face of one of them.”

Kirklees Magistrates Court, Huddersfield.
Kirklees Magistrates Court, Huddersfield.

Then on August 23 Shah was asked to leave St Peter’s Gardens in Byram Street after shouting and swearing at members of the public as he drank from a bottle of alcohol.

A Pc issued him with a dispersal order to leave the area and not return for 48 hours.

However he returned a short while later, pacing up and down and throwing his arms around.

Mr Bozman said: “He was arrested for not complying with the dispersal order.

“There was a struggle and he was taken to the ground.

“Whilst on the ground he spat at one Pc and bit another on his finger, causing damage to the officer’s watch during the course of the struggle.”

Just days later on August 26, Shah caused a nuisance at the Cherry Tree pub on John William Street.

He headbutted the outer door, causing the glass to shatter and £750 worth of damage.

Mr Bozman said: “Mr Shah went inside the pub and was shouting and seemed to be in distress.

“He banged his head on a table and started picking up broken bits of glass, rubbing it over his body and saying he wanted to die.”

The Cherry Tree in Huddersfield
The Cherry Tree in Huddersfield

Magistrates heard that Shah, who appeared in court in custody, held a string of previous convictions for assaulting police officers.

He pleaded guilty to four charges of assaulting a constable acting in the execution of his duty, contravening a dispersal order, criminal damage and failing to attend court previously.

During his sentencing magistrates will be asked to consider a Criminal Behaviour Order due to issues with Shah committing offences in the town.

The order would exclude him from St Peter’s Gardens, where drug and alcohol addicts are known to congregate, and from acting in an anti-social way.

Mike Sisson-Pell, mitigating, described his client as suffering from mental health problems, including psychosis.

On the incident at HMP Leeds he explained: “While he was serving a custodial sentence an undesirable person was put into his cell.

“There was an argument about who was going to be moved. He didn’t want to be moved and this situation happened.”

Shah lashed out at police in the town because he was in pain as they handcuffed him.

Mr Sisson-Pell added: “He has mental health difficulties where the level of support isn’t always there.”

Magistrates adjourned Shah’s sentencing until October 7 so that his suitability for a drug rehabilitation requirement can be assessed.

In the meantime he must reside at his address and not enter St Peter’s Gardens.