A man tried to butt a shop assistant and then spat blood at a policeman after he was too drunk to be served, a court heard.

Shane English, 18, was trying to buy alcohol at the Spar in Colchester High Street on August 29.

Colchester Magistrates' Court heard that English began shouting at a supervisor and then threw loose change at the shop assistant when they would not serve him.

Grace Court, prosecuting, said English, of the Willows, Colchester, then jumped over the counter.

"He broke the cash machine and damaged the lottery machine. A member of the public then tried to control him.

"However, he tried to headbutt the shop assistant and the police were called. He was arrested but he spat blood at one of the officers and then kicked out at the other officer."

The court heard English suffered from depression and had been taking medication.

In a police interview he said he could not remember what he had done and felt he had been an "idiot" when he was told.

He admitted two charges of assaulting a police constable and assaulting the shop assistant.

Paul Tawn, mitigating, said English had been a good scholar and a good boy at home.

He told the court English's depression did not excuse his behaviour but did put it into context.

The court ordered him to serve a 21-day sentence suspended for 12 months.

He will also have to do 150 hours unpaid work in the community and pay £75 compensation to each police officer and the shop assistant. The court also told him to pay £100 compensation to Spar and £70 court costs.

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Published Thursday, November 24, 2005

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