Christopher Fleming, 42, has been jailed after biting a police officer's arm during his arrest following a high-speed chase in Warrington. He appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on August 14 and was sentenced to 14 weeks in prison.
Police chase and arrest
Police first attempted to stop Fleming on August 13 in the Firs Lane area of Warrington after receiving a tip-off that someone matching his description had been driving while under the influence of alcohol. Fleming, driving a blue BMW 1 Series, ignored the officer's request and drove off at speed.
He was later spotted driving at speed on Cromwell Avenue, with officers making several further attempts to stop him. He ran a set of red lights before the car was found abandoned in the Helmsdale Lane area of the town.
Violent resistance
With the help of a police dog unit, Fleming was traced to his address on Gregory Close. When officers arrived, he claimed he had not left the property for 'some time' and had not been driving the BMW. When officers tried to detain him, he began to resist, kicking two of them and attempting to grab another's taser, Cheshire Police said.
While in custody, he 'lunged at one of the officers, with his teeth making contact with the officer’s arm', meaning he had to be taken to the floor.
Guilty plea and sentencing
Fleming pleaded guilty to using a motor vehicle on a public road without insurance, failing to stop for police, driving without due care and attention, driving whilst disqualified, three counts of assaulting a police officer, and obstructing an officer in the execution of their duty.
Chief Inspector Cameron Taylor of Cheshire Police said: 'Christopher Fleming's arrest and subsequent conviction was the result of a team effort; officers from several specialist departments coming together with a common goal in mind: to locate and arrest a dangerous driver who posed a serious risk to other road users and pedestrians.'
'I would like to thank the attending officers for the utmost professionalism they showed throughout this particularly challenging arrest and transfer to custody. Our officers do not come to work to be physically assaulted in any form; they come to work to protect the public and bring those who have done wrong to justice - which is exactly the result we have achieved here.'
