Temisan Oritsejafor, the Nigerian who spat blood into a policewoman’s eyes during his arrest in the UK, has been jailed for eight months.
The 41-year-old launched the sickening attack on PC Annie Napier as she detained him after he assaulted his neighbours.
The incident occurred at a block of flats in Coventry on April 18.
During the incident, Oritsejafor, who suffered a bloody nose, was seen getting handcuffed in bodycam footage before he spat at PC Annie Napier.
He was on bail at the time for a previous assault on a police officer, a court heard.
Oritsejafor admitted common assault and two charges of common assault on emergency workers at Warwick Crown Court in May.
On Thursday, July 2, he was jailed for eight months and ordered to pay a £149 victim surcharge.
Prosecutor Mark Phillips said: ‘A male officer who believed he was being aggressive took him to the floor, and was assisted by a female colleague, PC Napier, to restrain him.
‘As they’re getting him up, he spits into the officer’s face
‘That is spit and blood, because he had had a bleeding nose earlier, and it catches her straight in the eye.’
Playing a CCTV recording of the incident, Mr Phillips added: ‘She is clearly upset, and she’s very shaken indeed.’
PC Napier, who tested negative for Covid-19, said: ‘As frontline officers, we know that we put ourselves in potential danger, but we now face the added risk of Covid-19 infection which then also puts our families at risk.
‘It’s a shock when someone spits in your face and very unpleasant, so I’m pleased the force and the courts take these assaults so seriously.’
Superintendent Jenny Skryme, of West Midlands Police, said: ‘It is vulgar and unacceptable to spit at anybody, but even more so a key worker who is putting themselves at risk to keep people safe and catch criminals.
‘Our officers are bravely and repeatedly on the frontline despite the understandable safety concerns across the country.
‘This type of assault on our staff is deplorable and shouldn’t, and won’t be, tolerated.’
