Homeless spice addict who attacked man outside city centre Tesco store is jailed at Leeds Crown Court

James Forrest left his victim unconscious following the attack outside the store on Bond Street, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Jessica Randell, prosecuting, said after he was arrested, 23-year-old Forrest spat on his police station cell door, smeared blood on the door and said he had coronavirus.

Miss Randell said Forrest attacked the man at around 10.30am on May 8.

The court heard Forrest was annoyed that a man was passed out on the pavement next to the complainant.

Miss Randell said Forrest shouted: "Take your friend or I will come and knock you out.

"The defendant approached and kicked him once to the head."

Forest's victim suffered a cut to his right eye and was treated by paramedics at the scene.

Police were called and Forest, who was found to have a bag of spice, told officers he had a £40-a-day spice habit.

Miss Randell said Forrest threw food around his cell and verbally abused a female custody officer, telling her: "You dirty w****. I will get your kids.'

"He said 'get that s*** away from me and he spat at the cell door, smeared blood on it and said 'I've got got coronavirus.'"

Forrest, of no fixed abode, admitted assault, possession of class B drugs and causing crminal damage to a police cell.

He has 49 previous convictions for 87 offences including battery, assault and criminal damage.

Satpal Roth-Sharma, mitigating, said Forrest had started offending aged 11.

Miss Roth-Sharma said: "He never met his biological parents. He was raised by his grandmother to the age of around eight and was in and out of the local authority care system and was back with his grandmother aged 12. At the age of 17 he started to live on the streets.

"He is vulnerable, He is a rough sleeper in the centre of Leeds and is prone to being attacked."

Jailing Forrest for 12 months, Judge Simon Phillips QC told him: "It was an entirely unprovoked attack. A security guard was present and could see what happened. He could see he was unconscious for several minutes."