A man who severed his fingers punching a window before biting a police officer who was trying to help him has avoided an extension to his current prison sentence.
Wiltshire Police had been called to the scene in Cavendish Square in Whitbourne Avenue on 12 June last year to assist the ambulance service after a man had become aggressive towards paramedics trying to treat him for a significant hand injury.
Swindon Magistrates’ Court this afternoon heard that 25-year-old William ‘Billy’ Goffett refused medical treatment but having suffered serious lacerations to three fingers from smashing a window, he was restrained on the floor by the responding police officers for his own welfare.
He continued to be aggressive towards police and paramedics, and once in the ambulance continued to lash out – physically and violently. Officers continued to restrain him in order to get him urgent medical care.
In the ambulance, he spat at the walls and threatened to spit at anyone who came near his hand so PC Tedder draped a spit hood over his head for everyone’s protection.
Goffett began thrashing his head around violently, making growling noises and threatened to bite the officer. He then bites the officer on the hand and then repeatedly shouts “I’m like a pit bull”. PC Tedder suffered a graze and slight bleeding as a result.
The injured man was taken to Great Western Hospital but was later transferred to John Radcliffe Hospital for extensive surgery on his hand following the incident.
The defendant – now a father-of-one – appeared before magistrates via video link from Erlestoke prison where he is serving a two-year sentence for unrelated crimes, including assaults on police.
Goffett pleaded guilty to common assault of an emergency worker and using threatening and abusive words with intent to cause fear of violence.
His defence solicitor pointed out that the offence predates the offences for which he is serving a prison sentence, and said his client is turning his life around to try and secure some form of access to his child.
In mitigation, he said Goffett’s short relationship with the woman who has since had his child had turned sour over the summer, in part due to social services wanting her to discontinue the relationship. It’s claimed they warned her child could be removed if the relationship wasn’t ended. As a result, he turned to cocaine to cope with the breakdown of his relationship and this led to a series of reckless behaviour.
His solicitor continued, stating his client now had a partial permanent disability to his right hand following the incident, which left some fingers “practically severed”.
He’s said to accept that his behaviour was unacceptable and inappropriate but he had concerns about anyone coming near his fingers due to the pain levels this could cause.
Hearing that he wanted to be a “proper father” and a “responsible adult” when he comes out of prison, magistrates imposed an 18-week sentence suspend for 12 months. He is due to be released from prison on license in July this year.
Goffett was also ordered to pay PC Tedder £50 compensation.
