Violent Leeds racist bit through his leg restraints after being kicked in groin by police officer

Warren Spence fought with West Yorkshire Police officers at a house in Seacroft after arming himself with a knife and fork.

Police went to a property on Lambrigg Crescent on November 18 last year after receiving reports that Spence had breached a restraining order by contacting his former partner and sending racially offensive text messages to her daughter and niece.

Nicoletta Alistari, prosecuting, said officers went into the property and found Spence armed with a knife and a fork.

The officers threatened to use a taser but the 50-year-old refused to put them down.

There was then a struggle in which Spence headbutted one of the officers after he was kicked in the groin.

The officers managed to detain Spence and he was placed in leg restraints.

Miss Alistari said Spence then committed an offence of criminal damage by biting through the leg restraints.

The incident took place after Spence breached a restraining order shortly after being released from prison.

The restraining order banned him from contacting his former partner as he had been controlling and abusive towards her during their relationship.

Spence sent the woman text messages from a withheld number after being released from prison on licence.

The woman initially made contact with Spence but the defendant was contacted by her daughter telling him the relationship was over and asking him to stay away from her mother.

Spence responded by sending racially offensive threatening messages to the daughter.

He sent further similar messages to the victim's niece.

Spence, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, breach of a restraining order, two offences of racially aggravated harassment and criminal damage.

He has 26 previous convictions which including offences for violence.

Rukhshanda Hussain, mitigating, said Spence accepted he would be facing a prison sentence because of the serious nature of the offending and his criminal record.

Miss Hussain said Spence was frustrated that he was unable to get in contact with his former partner as she owed him money.

Spence was jailed for 16 months