A suicidal Penrith man who hit a police officer while injured and left him with blood across his face has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Officers were called by hospital staff to the home address of 60-year-old Vincent Holden on the night of June 18. It was stated that Holden was at home and using a knife to cut his wrists, seeking to take his own life.
He was described as lying on his left side and unresponsive, Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard. “The floor was covered in blood, and blood was pouring from his right hand,” said prosecutor George Shelley.
Paramedics were requested, a knife was located on a kitchen counter and when medics arrived they began providing medical attention.
Holden suddenly sat up, made a comment, lunged towards them and began to growl and swear. He grabbed the leg of a police officer whose colleague intervened.
Holden then moved his feet as though he was going to throw a punch. He threw his hand towards a PC, who responded with the use of his own open palm.
“The PC was punched to the face, resulting in the transfer of blood from Mr Holden to his face and glasses,” said Mr Shelley.
Holden, of Benson Row, Penrith, was unruly in a police van, banging his head against a cage. And in the accident and emergency department of Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary he was taken into a separate room, placed in handcuffs and was extremely aggressive, wanting to cause harm to himself and others.
In court, Holden admitted assaulting an emergency worker and a public order charge. He had previously admitted breaching a restraining order by tagging a woman’s business in a Facebook post on May 21.
Andrew Gurney, defending, said Holden had since made another bid to take his own life with his mental health getting worse, not better.
Holden felt he was not receiving proper support from specialist services. However, there was a chance to obtain professional help as he was in the system, said Mr Gurney.
Opting not to adjourn the case for a psychiatric report, magistrates suspended a 14-week jail term for 12 months. He must complete a rehabilitation requirement, pay £100 compensation to the PC and was banned from contacting the woman for a further five years.
