Man jailed for kicking police as he was disarmed of knife outside Morrisons store in Leeds city centre

Lee Verdon kicked the officer in the chest moments after he was disarmed when members of the public contacted police with concerns about the defendant carrying a knife

Leeds Crown Court heard Verdon was also found in possession of spice when he was taken to a police station.

James Holding, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court how police received information that a man was armed with a knife near to the Morrisons store, on Woodhouse Lane, on January 26 this year.

A police officer and two PCSOs approached Verdon. He initially complied with the officers as he had previously built up a rapport with one of the them.

Verdon told the officers he had a knife up his sleeve.

The handcuffs were removed so the officers could get to the weapon.

Verdon then started to walk away but was told to sit down on a wall. While he was on the wall he kicked out at the police officer, striking him in the chest.

He was detained and transported to custody where a small amount of the class B drug was found in his pocket.

Verdon told the officers he had been carrying a knife for his own protection.

Verdon, 43, of Lincoln Road, Burmantofts, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker, possession of a bladed article and possession of a class B drug.

He has five previous convictions for possessing a bladed article and four for possessing an offensive weapon.

Stephen Welford, mitigating, said Verdon pleaded guilty to the offences at an early stage.

Jailing Verdon, Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said: "The prospect of someone using spice and carrying a knife is too awful to contemplate.

"Fortunately on this occasion you do not appear to have been under the influence of that drug."