A TAUNTON man who was behaving irrationally while in possession of a knife was Tasered repeatedly and pepper sprayed by police after fighting and biting officers.

Joshua Thompson, 26, of Roseberry Terrace, was believed to be suffering from a serious mental health episode, and when told he was going to be detained, began lashing out and despite being Tasered he did not calm down.

When the police managed to take him to the ground he bit one of the officers hard on his arm, clamping his teeth on him and leaving him needing antibiotics.

Thompson admitted assaulting a police constable in the execution of his duty at Wookey Hole on December 17 when he appeared before Yeovil Magistrates.

Emma Lenanton, prosecuting, said police were called at Wookey Hole at 7.45am in relation to a domestic incident.

The officers were told there was possibly a knife involved so they went to the address armed with a Taser and when they arrived, Thompson appeared to be suffering from a serious mental health episode, the court heard.

“He was not listening to what the officers were saying and they were trying to arrest him when one of the officers deployed the Taser which had no effect,” Miss Lenanton said.

“Thompson was told he would be detained under the Mental Health Act but his behaviour was very irrational and he was lashing out at the police and was Tasered a number of times.

“One of the officers had to deploy Pava spray which had little or no effect and he eventually got the defendant on the floor and started taking control.

“During the altercation, Thompson tried to bite him and then turned his head and bit the officer hard on the right arm, clamping his teeth hard causing intense pain.

“The victim wrenched his arm away and extreme force had to be used to detain the defendant.”

As a result of the assault the officer received bruising, broken skin and swelling to his arm and was put on a course of antibiotics.

He later made a statement saying he had never experienced such violence to the extent that both a Taser and Pava spray had no effect and said the injury would have been a lot worse if he had not been wearing his body armour.

In mitigation, Chris Ivory, representing Thompson, said the offence was committed because Thompson was suffering from a mental health episode.

After being arrested, he was taken to hospital and was interviewed 24 hours later and had no recollection of the events.

Probation officer Joe Harper said Thompson had taken cocaine in the lead-up to the incident and had started arguing with his partner, although there were no threats of violence.

“He cannot remember anything about the assault on the police officer or trying to be arrested and feels absolutely disgusted with his behaviour.

“He is now trying hard to pull away from offending altogether and is living in supported housing and has been referred to Talking Therapies.”

The district judge told Thompson the officer had simply been carrying out his job and he had caused him “actual and real injury”.

He sentenced him to a 12-month community order with a 25-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and ordered him to take part in a Thinking Skills programme.

He was also ordered to pay the police officer £200 compensation and £85 costs.