Drunk told to compensate police officer he spat as the spittle dripped down body armour

A POLICE officer spat at by drunken Craig Ainsley was awarded �60 compensation by a court.

Ainsley had issued a torrent of foul abuse towards PC Kayleigh Crowson and her colleagues before he spat - the spittle landing on the officer's body armour.

"He was put in a spit hood, but started vomiting so it had to be removed," Fenland magistrates were told by prosecutor Scheherazade Haque.

"Ainsley had been drinking, and later told officers he could not remember what happened during the incident."

Twenty-four-year-old Ainsley, of Burcroft Road, Wisbech, admitted assaulting the officer and using threatening behaviour near his home on October 31.

Police arriving on the scene had heard a male shouting abuse, and residents had come out of their homes to see what was happening, said Ms Haque.

"His behaviour was causing alarm. Some people tried to calm him down. He struggled with a male and seemed drunk, and was warned about his behaviour."

Charlotte Winchester, mitigating, said: "My client had drunk a large amount of alcohol. He feels embarrassed, and accepts he behaved in that way. He has no problem with alcohol, and has not drunk since."

Ainsley was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay �85 court costs.