A man has been ordered to pay compensation after spitting in the mouth of one female police officer and hurling racist insults at another.
Stewart Nortcliffe, 24, pleaded guilty to assaulting a constable in the execution of her duty and racially-aggravated assault.
The offences happened at Northumberland Street in Huddersfield town centre in the early hours of October 19.
Kirklees magistrates heard today that Nortcliffe suffers from depression and anxiety.
His mother contacted police to report him missing.
The court heard that she was concerned because he was vulnerable and had been out drinking.
At just before 5am Nortcliffe dialled 999 from a phone box in the town, claiming that he was suicidal and had been left by friends during their night out.
CCTV cameras covering the town were used to locate him and two officers attended.
Concerned that he would run away, one of the officers took hold of his wrist but assured him that he was not under arrest.
Vanessa Jones, prosecuting, said: “He said: ‘Let me go you bitch’ and then began struggling with both of the officers.
“He spat at one of them in the face, the spittle landed in her mouth and she swallowed some of that.
“The defendant grabbed hold of the other officer’s ponytail and shouted: ‘Go back to your own country’.”
Nortcliffe was arrested but called the arresting officer a lesbian and continued to be abusive.
Sam Jackson, defending, said his client’s consumption of alcohol coupled with his anti-depression medication contributed to the incident.
Magistrates ordered Nortcliffe, of Spring Terrace in Halifax, to pay £100 compensation to the officer he spat at and £50 to the other officer.
He must also complete 80 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12-month community order and pay £85 costs.
