Yob bit reveller's hand during New Year's Eve celebrations in Hartlepool bar

Carl Hudson sank his teeth into a finger and back of the man’s hand when he tried to shake Hudson’s hand in Jax Bar just after midnight on New Year’s Eve.

He later assaulted the policewoman called to deal with the disturbance.

Hudson, 42, was on a suspended sentence at the time after being given a chance by the court just six months earlier.

He was jailed for 18 months at Teesside Crown Court after admitting assault by beating and assault of an emergency worker.

Anthony Pettengell, prosecuting, said: “Just after midnight as party poppers were being used and people were cheering the New Year in this defendant came towards him (the victim).”

Hudson went up to the man’s face but fell to the floor. The victim helped him up and put out his hand for Hudson to shake.

Mr Pettengell added: “The defendant grabbed his hand but instead of shaking it he put it into his mouth biting his finger near the knuckle.”

The victim tried to push him away, but Hudson made multiple attempts to bite his hand again, and did so to the back of his hand drawing blood.

Hudson, formerly of Hartlepool, now Queensway, Pontefract, was ejected from the bar on Stockton Street but returned and had to be held down by door staff.

Two police officers were called and arrested him.

But he kicked the female officer while he was being taken into custody after complaining his handcuffs were too tight.

Last June, Hudson was given two years prison suspended for two years for importing a taser on behalf of a drug dealer and production of cannabis.

Caroline Abraham, defending, said was heavily intoxicated at the time of the New Year’s Eve assaults adding: “He is disgusted with his behaviour.”

Judge Stephen Ashurst activated 12 months of the suspended sentence.

He said all emergency workers were entitled to the court’s protection and the public expect offenders to be punished.

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