Man jailed for kicking police as he was disarmed of knife outside Morrisons store in Leeds city centre
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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.
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Hide AdJames 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.
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Hide AdHe 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.
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Hide AdStephen 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."