WPC Assaulted and Spat At

George Gilmartin, 28, of Cove Road, Rustington, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, fear or provocation of violence and assaulting a PC.

The offence happened on December 14, 2000, after Gilmartin went into a newsagents in Clifton Road, Worthing.

Speaking to magistrates at Worthing, prosecutor Mr Nigel Creasey said the defendant began insulting people in the shop.

"Mr Gilmartin turned to the female shop assistant and started to spit at her," he said.

"She said 'get out and he shouted back. The situation deteriorated further.

"He started shouting 'I ll get you, I ll get you ."

Once outside the shop, the defendant started ripping flowers from the ground, shouting he was going to "torch a shop", the court heard.

Gilmartin then threw a bottle, which hit a female passer-by, who required hospital treatment for a cut hand.

Mr Creasey said that when the police arrived the defendant was abusive to officers, spitting in the face of a WPC.

Representing Gilmartin, Mr Toby Brothers said his client was remorseful.

"The incident itself is a disgraceful incident and my client would do nothing but agree with that," he said.

He added the bottle throwing was a "reckless assault" and Gilmartin had not intended to hit anyone.

At the hearing, Gilmartin also admitted driving with no insurance, possession of cannabis, failing to wear a seatbelt and obstructing a PC.

These offences happened while on bail, when the defendant was stopped in a car during a routine police check on May 26.

In court, he also admitted two counts of failure to surrender to bail and breach of a conditional discharge.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month conditional discharge. Gilmartin was also given a six-month driving ban and ordered to pay compensation to three victims. No order for costs was made.