Leeds racist jumped under bus after threatening police with crutch while high on spice

A thug tried to attack police officers with a crutch as they arrested a man for dealing spice in Leeds city centre.

Ashley Varley then jumped under a bus in a bid to escape the officers during the incident in Leeds city centre.

A court heard Varley was arrested and taken to hospital where he shouted vile racial abuse at police and medical staff.

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The 29-year-old was locked up for 15 months over the incident and other offences including committing fraud with a stolen bank card.

Ashley Varley threatened police officer with crutch as drug dealer was being arrested outside Holy Trinity Church, on Boar Lane.Ashley Varley threatened police officer with crutch as drug dealer was being arrested outside Holy Trinity Church, on Boar Lane.
Ashley Varley threatened police officer with crutch as drug dealer was being arrested outside Holy Trinity Church, on Boar Lane.

Leeds Crown Court heard police officers went to Boar Lane in Leeds city centre on August 22 last year after receiving a report of a man dealing spice outside Holy Trinity Church.

Varley was with a number of other people nearby as the officers went to arrest a man on suspicion of drug dealing.

Carmel Pearson, prosecuting, took a crutch from a man who standing near to him.

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He was heard to say: "Give me that crutch. I will show them."

Varley then swung the mobility aid as he approached the officers.

One of the PCs drew his baton and walked towards Varley as his colleagues detained the suspected drug dealer.

Varley backed into the road and collided with a stationary bus.

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Miss Pearson said Varley then climbed underneath the bus in a bid to get away from the officer.

The officer instructed the bus driver not to drive away as he feared Varley would be injured.

Varley was detained and taken to Elland Road police station where he claimed to feel unwell and pretended to fall asleep.

He was transferred to hospital where he spat, swore and shouted racial insults at officers and medical staff.

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Varley had a spit hood placed over his head but continued to try to bite officers.

The defendant was examined by a doctor who said there was nothing wrong with him.

The doctor asked that Varley be removed from the hospital as quickly as possible because of the upset he was causing.

Varley was later released on bail pending an investigation but went on to commit fraud on October 31.

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He used a bank card which had been stolen from a student property in Headingley to buy £100 worth of items from a shop in Leeds city centre.

The defendant was arrested after he was recognised from CCTV footage from the shop.

Varley, of Ashton Grove, Harehills, pleaded guilty to obstructing a police constable, racially aggravated threatening behaviour and fraud.

He also admitted further offences of failing to attend court and failing to attend an assessment to be tested for crack cocaine.

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The offences were committed while Varley was the subject of a two-year suspended sentence order.

Michael Walsh, mitigating, said Varley was under the influence of spice at the time of the police incident in Leeds city centre.

Mr Walsh said his client believed the drug had been laced with acetone - a substance found in nail polish remover.

He added that Varley had found the bank card and was not responsible for stealing it from the student.

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Jailing Varley, Judge Adnrew Stubbs QC said: "You were behaving appallingly in the middle of Leeds, taking drugs.

"When police tried to arrest a drug dealer you tried to stop them.

"You then shouted vile abuse to people in hospital. It was disgraceful."