Mildura Magistrates’ Court: Bevan Yates pleads guilty to assault after spitting in police officer’s face

A Mildura man who spat in a police officer’s face in court as he struggled with corrections staff in court has been slammed as “disgraceful”.

Mildura man Bevan Yates pleads guilty in the magistrates’ court after spitting directly in police officer’s face in a bail hearing.

A Mildura man who spat on a police officer and assaulted a corrections staff member inside a courthouse has been slammed by a magistrate for his “disgraceful” offending.

Bevan Yates fronted Mildura Magistrates’ Court on October 23 and pleaded guilty to two charges of assault.

Yates appeared in court on June 29 for a bail application on other matters, which was denied.

When the magistrate handed down their decision, Yates became loud, vocally abusing the magistrate.

He threw a tissue box inside the docks, before resisting the corrections officers as they attempted to take him back into custody.

He pushed one of the officers, causing them to fall into the back wall of the dock, before he also kicked the walls of the dock as the officers continued to try and restrain him.

A police officer then entered the dock to help the struggling corrections officers before Yates spat directly in the face of the officer as he was being handcuffed.

Magistrate Patrick Southey convicted and ordered Yates to serve 14 days in prison, as he was already in custody for another matter.

“Spitting on people is a disgraceful, nasty assault,” Mr Southey said.

“It’s a terrible thing to do to another person.”

Yates will face court at a later date.