A DRUNKEN man spat towards a police constable whose uniform was torn as trouble flared at a Carlisle house.

Officers had attended reports of an incident at Lawson Street, off Newtown Road, on September 9.

Prosecutor George Shelley told the city’s magistrates’ court: “Officers were directed to one house by a member of the public stating the males inside were the ones causing the disturbance and that they had been ‘at it all day’.”

One female PC met occupant Laurinaitis Vytautas, a Lithuanian national, at the door.

“He was intoxicated through alcohol. He has closed the door on the officer and sat behind it,” said Mr Shelley.

The officer managed to get 47-year-old Vytautas to open it. “At which point he spat in the direction of the officer, grabbed her by the epaulet of her uniform and pushed her,” said the prosecutor. “He spat in her direction. It made no contact with her.”

Vytautas was initially arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly. The officer did not sustain any injury but an epaulet was ripped from her T-shirt.

“Mr Vytautas stated he had no recollection as he was heavily intoxicated. He apologised for his behaviour,” Mr Shelley told the court of his interview. He had a limited number of previous convictions, the last recorded in April, 2019, but did have a past offence of police assault on his rap sheet.

In court, Vytautas, of Lawson Street, Carlisle, admitted assaulting an emergency worker.

Defence lawyer Kate Hunter said as she gave mitigation: “Mr Vytautas does offer his remorse and did in his interview. It was drink-related, unfortunately. He had been having friends around and was not expecting an officer to call at the door.

“He has reacted badly. He offers his apologies to the court and, more importantly, to the officer.”

Miss Hunter said Vytautas had moved to Carlisle from London since the commission of his last offence in a bid to keep out of trouble. Previously a hotel worker in the capital, he had latterly been carrying out charity duties in Carlisle although had been unfit to work recently due to ill health.

Vytautas was fined £180 and ordered to pay the officer £150 compensation.

“I have no doubt this was a frightening experience for her,” he was told by deputy district judge Anna Moran. “She is entirely undeserving of that. She was going about her job when you decided to assault her.”