York would-be robber jailed for attack on policeman

On April 16 last year, Richard Simon Dentith threatened a man in Barbican Road in York that he would “knock you clean out mate and take everything you’ve got,” York Crown Court heard.

He then kicked the man.

The Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, gave him a suspended prison sentence for attempted robbery and assault.

Less than a year later, Dentith was back before the same court for violence. He had assaulted a police sergeant on February 20 this year.

Tom Jackson, prosecuting, said the 30-year-old had been uncooperative with the police from the moment they had taken him into custody and for a prolonged period of time.

Defence barrister Anna Bond told Judge Simon Hickey: "This was a minor blip" and urged him not to make Dentith serve the suspended sentence.

But the judge said: “Anybody who assaults a police officer who was acting in the course of their public duty has to go to custody unless there are exceptional circumstances.”

He made Dentith serve 14 months of the suspended sentence and added a month for the new offence.

Dentith, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker.

Last year he admitted the attempted robbery and assault.

Miss Bond said of Dentith’s actions on February 20: “It was behaviour borne out of frustration.”

He had been staying with friends.

Police had been called because there had been a disagreement and he had been asked to leave.

He didn’t want to because that would mean him living on the streets and he was angered by the police decision because he had been assaulted by someone else.

Mr Jackson said Dentith had been arrested to prevent a breach of the peace.

York Crown Court heard after Dentith had been put in a cell at Fulford Road Police Station, he had rung its bell for attention.

When a police sergeant went to him, he had thrown some water over him.

Miss Bond said Dentith had mental health problems.

He had now formed a relationship with a woman with whom he was living and had two jobs.