A HOMELESS Whitehaven man prosecuted for assaulting two police officers feels safer when he is in prison, a judge was told.

Defence barrister Kim Whittlestone made the point at the Carlisle Crown Court sentence hearing for 34-year-old John Pullin, who pleaded guilty to the assaults and one shoplifting offence.

Prosecutor Brendan Burke said the defendant turned violent as police officers investigating another matter spoke to him and attempted to arrest him.

His first violent reaction was to push a male police officer, causing him to stagger backwards.

"He then tried to headbutt the female officer," said Mr Burke. Pullin was forcibly restrained and taken to the ground, said the prosecutor.

But the defendant continued to lash out, attempting to kick the officers, at one point kicking with such force that one of his training shoes came off his foot.

Fortunately neither officer was injured.

Outlining the theft offence, Mr Burke said it happened at the Whitehaven branch of Asda when Pullin attempted to walk out of the store with goods - including alcohol - worth £70 without paying.

Miss Whittlestone, defending, said: "The explanation for his offending behaviour is two things: drugs and a lack of supportive and secure accommodation, which leads to depression and anxiety.

"He struggles with his mental health significantly and has in the recent past been detained under the Mental Health Act with psychotic symptoms.

"He feels safer in custody, which is a rather sad state of affairs."

The barrister said the defendant felt able to maintain some stability and begin to address his issues while in custody.

"He presents today as polite and stable," added the barrister. Judge Nicholas Barker noted that there had been an escalation in the defendant's offending.

The two police officers he assaulted had suffered a "sustained, violent altercation," said the judge, adding: "That is simply not a part of a police officer's job.

"Many people think it is and I repeatedly say that these courts will protect police officers from violence directed at them when they are serving the community, doing their job."

Judge Barker said Pullin had been prosecuted for such offences many times before, committing four such sets of offences in 2021 alone. The defendant was jailed for five months.

Judge Barker said he hoped that Pullin will access support from the Probation Service when he is released from prison.