Shoplifter who bit policeman is jailed

A SHOPLIFTER who bit a policeman on the chest resulting in the officer having to take a course of drugs in case he had been infected with the HIV virus or hepatitis has been jailed for 14 months.

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A SHOPLIFTER who bit a policeman on the chest resulting in the officer having to take a course of drugs in case he had been infected with the HIV virus or hepatitis has been jailed for 14 months.

Mark Pleasance was arrested on December 4 after suspicious staff at the Tesco store in Sudbury called the police, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

When confronted Pleasance had run off but was chased by a police officer who was punched in the face as he tried to detain him, said Michael Crimp, prosecuting.

CCTV footage showed previous visits to the store by Pleasance on November 29 and December 3 during which he had placed items in a trolley and left without paying for them.

A search of Pleasance’s home revealed stolen property worth £500 to £600 and many of the items still had security tags on, said Mr Crimp.

He said that when Pleasance was detained on December 4 he had goods worth more than £1,000.

After his arrest on December 4 Pleasance was taken to a police custody suite and while there he had smeared faeces over his face and cell and had refused to clean himself up.

He hinted he might have a blade concealed on him and when a policeman had gone into his cell Pleasance had bitten him on the chest and wrist.

The bite to the chest had broken the skin and was found to be contaminated with Pleasance’s saliva. He refused to say what his HIV and hepatitis status was resulting in the officer having to undergo a course of drug treatment, said Mr Crimp. He said the cost of cleaning the cell at the custody suite had been put at £100

Pleasance, 43, of Victoria Road, Cambridge, admitted two offences of shoplifting, damaging property, assaulting an officer in the execution of his duty and assault causing actual bodily harm to the officer he bit on the chest.

Jailing him for 14 months, Judge Peter Fenn said Pleasance had a history of shoplifting and using violence and only a custodial sentence could be justified. He said the officer bitten by Pleasance had undergone a very unpleasant course of treatment to stop him contracting HIV or hepatitis.