Jarvis Austin Titmarsh jailed for “disgusting” spitting attack on police officer at Ocean Street

A young man with the criminal history of a “seasoned offender” has been jailed for spitting on and headbutting police officers while on a night out at Ocean Street.

Jarvis Austin Titmarsh, 22, was sentenced in Maroochydore Magistrates Court for assaulting two police officers on Ocean Street.

A night out on Ocean Street ended in arrest for a young man who headbutted, kicked and spat on police officers in a “disgusting and degrading” attack near the popular night-life precinct.

At just 22 years old, Jarvis Austin Titmarsh had the criminal history of a “seasoned offender”, the Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard.

Titmarsh was sentenced on Tuesday to 12 months in prison for the serious assault in the early hours of April 24.

Police prosecutor Lee Allan said officers asked Titmarsh to leave Ocean Street at 12.15am and again at 2am after he was arguing with other people and causing a “disturbance”.

The court heard Titmarsh told police he was waiting for a lift from his mother, who worked on Ocean Street and finished her shift at 3.30am.

Titmarsh was given a police direction to leave the safe night precinct but at 2.15am officers found him yelling and “waving his arms around” in the taxi rank.

Defence lawyer Laura Nightingale said Titmarsh did not remember most of what happened next, but the court heard the 22-year-old spat on one officer, with his saliva landing on his shirt and hand.

He then kicked the officer in the leg and headbutted another.

Senior Constable Allan said spitting was “disgusting and degrading” and that the offences were serious.

He said Titmarsh had three pages of criminal history in New South Wales and two pages of Queensland history.

“His history outweighs his age … (it) reflects that of a more seasoned offender,” he said.

Police patrolling Ocean Street, Maroochydore. Picture: Patrick Woods

Senior Constable Allan submitted that a prison sentence was appropriate and said Titmarsh had a history of public nuisance and obstruct police offences but had not been deterred by previous community based orders or fines.

“His behaviour has escalated to serious acts of violence to police,” Senior Constable Allan said.

Ms Nightingale said Titmarsh was remorseful and had not drank alcohol since his arrest in April.

She said he struggled to find employment and lived over the border in northern New South Wales.

She said he was given an exemption to cross the border to appear in court.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist said the “many, many, many” sentences previously given to Titmarsh had not deterred him from “acting like a thug on the street at night time.”

He said the assaults were “deplorable and degrading” and could have psychological effects on the officers lasting longer than the physical injuries.

In May, Titmarsh pleaded guilty to one charge each of assault police officer, serious assault police officer, serious assault police officer by spitting, obstruct police officer – licensed premises, commit public nuisance within or in the vicinity of a licensed premise and contravene police direction.

Mr Stjernqvist gave Titmarsh a head sentence of 12 months in prison, to be suspended for two years after her served four months.

The court heard Titmarsh was on a two-year community-based correctional order from New South Wales at the time of the assaults, but would not be charged with a breach by the state.