A prolific burglar who kicked, bit and spat at officers as they detained him is back behind bars.
Lee Brian Smith was wanted on recall to prison when officers spotted him in Shildon on Monday, February 21.
Since being released last November, the 28-year-old carried out a string of car thefts and went on the run after snapping his electronic tag off.
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Officers, including those from Neighbourhoods and Response, tracked him down and detained him on a roof where he bit one officer and spat at another.
He continued the assaults at Darlington Police Station where he spat at a sergeant and made violent threats towards officers.
Smith, of Rose Crescent, Sacriston, also spat in the face of a detective trying to interview him and had to be restrained again.
At Durham Crown Court Smith pleaded guilty to a total of 15 offences including six assaults on emergency workers, six charges of vehicle interference and three thefts from a motor vehicle.
He was sentenced to 11 months in prison and will serve another two years after a previous suspended sentence was activated.
DS Sarah Hindmarsh, of the South Volume Crime Team, said: “Smith is a prolific offender who has spent just 18 months out of prison in the last ten years – each time set on reoffending and bringing harm to our communities.
“Officers do their best to protect the public and being assaulted – especially in such a vile manner – is not acceptable.”
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