A CARLISLE man was slammed by a judge for a “disgusting act” as he was jailed for 18 months for a string of offences.

Steven Arvids Queen, 37, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday after he pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

Outlining the prosecution case, Charles Brown told the court the defendant had first entered a Spar shop in Carlisle on June 30 of this year and was reminded he was barred by staff.

In response, Queen picked up a Magnum ice cream and licked it, before then proceeding to be abusive towards staff. Witnesses described Queen as being under the influence of drink or drugs. He admitted the theft of the lolly, valued at £2.09.

Shortly before 8pm on the same day he was reported to police for being abusive outside a takeaway close to the police station in Carlisle.

“Police arrived to find him spitting and shouting. He was arrested for a public order offence and was put in the back of a police van and taken to the police station,” outlined Mr Brown.”

Upon arriving, Queen, of Atkinson Crescent in Harraby, continued to abuse officers, refusing to get out of the van. After he was put inside a police cell, staff began to hear a sound emanating from Queen’s lock-up.

They found Queen had been banging inside his cell and realised he had a 6 inch blade in his possession.

They later found Queen was in possession of a six-inch blade. He soon made threats to harm himself and officers. The threats to officers were made through the door of the cell.

The confrontation continued for about an hour, before Queen fell asleep and the knife was removed.

During his time in custody Queen also damaged a perspex cover inside one of the cells and damaged police custody safety shorts.

Soon after, Sergeant Powell went to check on Queen, who spat through the observation window of the cell at him.

Queen admitted all seven offences.

The court heard Queen had 19 pages of previous convictions.

Sean Harkin, defending, told the court: “Mr Queen has been quite candid with police that he committed these offences and he was under the influence of drink and drugs. Since his mother died in 2019 he has used Valium as a crutch to deal with that.”

Mr Harkin asked if the sentence imposed could focus on rehabilitation.

Describing the spitting incident, Recorder Ciaran Rankin told the defendant: “It was on your part a disgusting act and would by itself warrant an immediate custodial sentence.”

Queen was jailed for 18 months.