A REPEAT offender with a record of attacking police officers has been spared a prison sentence after he admitted biting one officer and driving a car at another.

Daryl McMahon, 38, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court to be sentenced for a litany of offences.

In August last year, he was caught cutting the tags off electric toothbrushes at a Tesco before stuffing them in a bag.

He was guarded by security staff until the police arrived.

Hugh Vass, prosecuting, said McMahon “struggled” as he was taken to a police car, telling the officers “check my records, see how many times I’ve assaulted police officers”.

The officers had to call for a police van but while waiting for it to arrive, McMahon tried to headbutt an officer and threatened to bite him.

While on bail, McMahon carried out two further assaults against police officers after he “lost his temper”.

The court heard he bit one officer and attempted to bite the other. Mr Vass said: “Sadly it is another example of how the defendant behaves with police officers.” In April, he committed the offence which “had the potential for causing the greatest harm to an officer”.

A patrolling police officer was investigating the smell of cannabis emanating from Evans Court, Halstead.

He recognised McMahon, finding him sitting in the driving seat of a Seat in a car port.

Ignoring the officer’s warnings, McMahon started the vehicle and reversed without looking behind him.

When the officer reached his arm through the window to try to snatch the key, McMahon continued to drive the car, dragging the officer with it.

The officer managed to free his arm and stepped away to avoid being struck.

The court heard McMahon turned the wheel towards the officer before accelerating.

Recorder Sailesh Mehta said: “There are so many of these cases where an officer’s arm becomes trapped while the vehicle is moving.”

McMahon, of no fixed address, admitted three counts of assaulting an emergency worker, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance, theft and going equipped for theft.

Alfred Underwood, mitigating, said: “It’s childish behaviour from someone who hasn’t grown up, that’s his words.”

He said McMahon has two children and it is “a matter of deep regret” he is not closer too them due to being in and out of prison.

Mr Underwood suggested a suspended sentence with conditions to address McMahon’s offending behaviour would be the best way forward.

“Time in custody stagnates his progress, he doesn’t move forward and he doesn’t change his ways,” he said.

The judge acknowledged the four months McMahon has already spent in custody and the constraints of sentencing guidelines would limit any immediate prison sentence.

McMahon was sentenced to a total of one year’s imprisonment, suspended for two years, with conditions to complete a 40-day rehabilitation requirement and 100 hours of unpaid work.

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