Man who swung spade before attacking officers jailed

Jamie Birks headbutted an officer on the leg and later spat at another

A man who wielded a spade in Derby city centre and attacked police officers has been jailed.

Derbyshire Police said it was called to St Peter's Street at about 13:00 BST on 26 September to reports of a 38-year-old man carrying a spade.

Jamie Birks, of Beaufort Street, in Derby, was charged with five counts of assaulting emergency workers.

Birks pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to 27 weeks in prison during an appearance at North East Derbyshire and Dales Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 21 October.

'Kicked out'

Police said Birks took the spade from a council workers' trolley and swung it at "numerous advertising boards" on St Peter's Street.

Two Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), who were out on patrol, shouted at Birks to put the spade down.

A member of public, who knew Birks, also tried to calm him down, but he began lashing out with the garden tool.

Another member of public, then tackled Birks to the ground before the PCSOs tried to keep him down.

Whilst being restrained, police said Birks hit and kicked out at the two PCSOs before being taken to a police station.

Whilst in custody, Birks "continued to be violent" and, during a search in his cell, he bit an officer on the leg.

Birks later began making threats towards officers and started "thrashing around", demanding they remove his handcuffs, police said.

He then headbutted an officer on the leg and later spat at another.

Following his sentence, Sgt Mark Sharma said: "This case is a stark reminder of the risks and challenges our officers face every day when trying to protect the public and keep people safe in Derbyshire."