Jamie Scott Dempsey apologises in SA District Court to two police officers he injured while resisting arrest

A man who feared being separated from his partner when he lashed out at two police officers – sparking a three-hour stand-off – has read a tearful apology in court.

A man who sparked a three-hour stand off with police – knocking an officer’s front tooth out – read tearful apologies in the District Court to the two officers he injured while resisting arrest.

Jamie Scott Dempsey had provided a false name and address to police on Robsart St, Parkside, in November last year, before running off. He later returned to the officers, wanting to retrieve a box of Roses chocolates he had bought for his girlfriend.

As the officers went to arrest him, he knocked out Brevet Sergeant Andrew Smith’s front tooth, pushed another into his gum, and injured Sergeant Margie Bowden’s knee.

Dempsey’s actions sparked a three-hour stand-off at the block of Housing Trust units where he lived, until he was eventually arrested by STAR Group officers.

STAR Group officers during the police siege at Parkside. Picture: 7NEWS

As he was loaded into a police vehicle he appeared to yell out “I love you baby”.

On Tuesday, he read separate tearful apologies to the officers, telling them he had “never assaulted anyone before”.

“I don’t go out looking to assault people or police,” he said. “On that day I panicked, fearing being separated from my partner (and) losing our Housing Trust home.”

He explained the incident also occurred outside the house where he had once lived with his parents, who split up during his “dysfunctional” childhood.

“My apologies, I’m hoping you can forgive me for including you and your partner in my bad run … which led to this,” he said. “I hope you can both move forward in life.”

Sergeant Margie Bowden and Brevet Sergeant Andrew Smith leave the District Court after listening to Jamie Scott Dempsey apologise. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Both of the injured officers were present to hear the apologies, and nodded after they were read.

Sgt Smith previously read a victim impact statement to the court, describing his constant pain and how his life had been forever altered by the vicious assault.

At the time, he said he accepted Dempsey’s apology.

Dempsey previously pleaded guilty to two counts of recklessly causing harm to an emergency services worker.

Tim Dibden, for Dempsey, said his client was under the influence of alcohol on the day and the offending was “out of character”.

“It was poorly thought out,” he said. “There is a degree of, putting it nicely, naivety, and putting it cruelly, stupidity, involved in him running off from police.

“It was a combination … of fear of losing his accommodation, fear of being arrested … and fear of jeopardising his relationship that made him panic in the way he did.”

Donna Foundas, prosecuting, said personal and general deterrence must “loom large” when sentencing Dempsey. She urged the court impose a custodial sentence.

Judge Joana Fuller will sentence Dempsey in July.