AN alcoholic who 'drinks himself into oblivion' and spat at a police officer says he is disgusted with himself.

Rowan Kirtley of Barnards Green Road, Malvern, admitted assault by beating of an emergency worker when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Thursday.

The 35-year-old spat on PC Allwood on Tuesday, March 15 this year. Officers were called to a disturbance at around 4.45pm.

Holly Sims, prosecuting, said police received a report of 'an unknown male on Pound Bank Road in Malvern, shouting and swearing and banging on residents' fences'.

Members of the public waved down officers and directed them towards an alleyway where the defendant was sat upon a tree stump in company with a female later found to be his partner.

Miss Sims said Kirtley was described as 'intoxicated' and 'aggressive' which led to an officer positioning himself between the defendant and his partner.

"The defendant tried to push past and then intentionally spat directly at the officer from arm's distance away. The spit landed on the officer's uniform and his stab vest. The defendant was arrested and initially resisted" said Miss Sims.

Kirtley was placed in handcuffs and taken to custody at Worcester Police Station. When interviewed Kirtley said he did not recall the assault but remembered getting into an argument with his ex-partner and being placed in handcuffs. "He states he is an alcoholic and doesn't think he needs any help or support with this" the prosecutor said.

"Spitting during Covid is even less pleasant than usual" she said, referring to the risk of disease transmission.

Judith Kenney, defending, said Kirtley had since changed his stance about needing help and at the time of the offence had not drunk for the previous two years.

"The reference from his employer would tend to suggest he's two people. His employer clearly thinks of him very highly" said Mrs Kenney.

He had a son from a previous relationship and he was proud that he had never missed a payment, she said. She described him as 'very articulate and very regretful' and his actions as 'a blip'.

"He tells me he has stopped drinking. He drinks himself into a state of oblivion" said Mrs Kenney.

Andrew Greenway, chairman of the bench, said: "This is not nice. While a police officer is going about their duty they do not expect to be assaulted or spat at. It's not acceptable."

Kirtley replied: "Of course it's not. It's disgusting."

Magistrates imposed a 12 month community order to include 80 hours of unpaid work, costs of £135 and a £95 victim surcharge. "I won't touch a drop again" said Kirtley.