Drug abuser jailed over glass attack

Sentencing Mark Ronald King at Leeds Crown Court yesterday, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said it was fortunate Sergeant Andrew Rodgers only suffered a cut to the bridge of his nose and not more serious injuries.

He told King it was an extremely serious offence and he would have imposed a longer jail term but had taken into account his recent diagnosis of serious heart problems, despite being only 27.

King, of Graham Thorpe Street, Bramley, Leeds admitted wounding with intent in March.

Nadim Bashir, prosecuting, said the police sergeant and other officers went to Lingwell Approach, Middleton, Leeds after a report someone there was brandishing a Samurai sword.

They spoke to people at the house where King was who claimed it was a neighbour who was responsible and also blamed him for shining a laser pen in their home.

After speaking to the neighbour who claimed to have had bottles thrown at him they returned to the first property where they were met with abuse from a number of men including King who was drinking alcohol from a glass.

Sgt Rodgers followed King to the kitchen and it was there he suddenly turned and thrust the glass into the officer's face. He was tasered and arrested.

Richard Reed, for King, said he accepted it was an unpleasant incident when he was in drink.

Since then he was admitted to hospital with pneumonia and while there it was found his cocaine and amphetamine abuse had led to a deterioration in his heart function. "He has been told his heart is more like a 70-year-old man than a man of his age," said Mr Reed. King was facing major surgery and uncertainty over his future, frightening for a man with a young family.