Craig Lewin Sharpley faces Toowoomba Magistrates Court for spitting on two police officers

A 29-year-old was being locked up in the watch-house when he spat on two police officers attending to him. Here’s what happened.

A 29-year-old man who spat on two police officers attending to him in the Toowoomba watch-house has been jailed for 12 months.

Craig Lewin Sharpley had been arrested and remanded in custody after a series of offences in which he had yelled abuse at his pregnant partner and made threats on separate days at his then Goondiwindi home in April, Toowoomba Magistrates Court was told.

Taken to the Toowoomba watch-house on April 26, Sharpley had been seen trying to cover the CCTV camera in his cell and was moved to another cell, police prosecutor Natalie Bugden told the court.

When a senior constable offered the shirtless Sharpley a jumper, the 29-year-old spat on him, the spit striking the officer’s arm, she said.

The 29-year-old man spat on two officers in the Toowoomba watch house.

When the other senior constable went to close the door on him, Sharpley spat on him, the spit striking his eyelid, body and upper leg, Sergeant Bugden said.

He had then ripped apart the watch-house issue tracksuit pants he had been provided with, she said.

Sharpley had spent the ensuing three months in custody and appeared via video link from the prison to plead guilty to making threats so as to cause fear, obstructing police and two counts of serious assault of a police officer.

His solicitor Claire Graham, of Skuse Graham Lawyers, told the court Sharpley had endured a difficult upbringing and had issues with drugs, alcohol and mental health.

He had been diagnosed with PTSD and bipolar but had been seeing a psychologist while in custody, she said.

Sharpley’s partner remained supportive of him but wanted him to get the appropriate help for his issues, she said.

Ms Graham said her client’s partner was due to be induced to give birth on August 1 and asked that her client be released from prison so he could be there to support her.

Magistrate Kay Philipson said all of the offences warranted terms of imprisonment.

“Spitting at a police officer trying to execute their duties in my view is an offence, of itself, warrants a sentence of imprisonment unless there are exceptional circumstances,” she said.

“I note you have previously been dealt with for serious assault police.”

Ms Philipson sentenced Sharpley to 12 months in jail but, declaring 87 days pre-sentence custody as time served, ordered he be released on parole immediately.