BATH: JAIL TERM CUT FOR VIOLENT YOB

JAIL TERM CUT FOR VIOLENT YOB

A Bath man who bit his ex-partner, attacked a kebab shop worker in a racially-motivated assault, sold heroin to undercover detectives and assaulted police officers in a four-month crime spree has had his prison sentence cut on appeal.An appeal judge said Lee Skipp's attack on police officers, in which he threatened to kill them, was "particularly reprehensible" and described his drug dealing as having a "hugely damaging effect on society".

But he said the original sentencing judge had failed to give the 29-year-old credit for pleading guilty to the offences, and cut the jail term from four years and five months to three years and three months.

Skipp had pleaded guilty in April this year to common assault, obstructing a police officer, two counts of assaulting an officer, possessing cannabis, racially aggravated common assault, damaging property and supplying heroin.

London's Court of Appeal heard that the charges related to four separate incidents, beginning on January 15 this year, when Skipp had run into his ex-partner on the street in Bath. When he asked her to return a mobile phone which she did not have, he bit her on the finger and ran away.

The appeal hearing was told that on two separate occasions later that month, Skipp of Queen's Drive, Foxhill sold heroin to an undercover police officer, for £10 and £15.

On April 11, Skipp obstructed and assaulted police officers who had been called to a pub after a smashed window was reported.

When the officers tried to apprehend Skipp's companion, he stepped in their way and said: "You're not arresting him."

And when the officers tried to radio for assistance, Skipp told them: "If you touch that (the police radio), I'll kill you. I'll shoot you both right now."

However he gave himself up and was arrested. At the police station he was searched and the cannabis was found. When police attempted to search him further, he bit one officer on the shin and kicked another on the leg.

In yet another incident, on April 24, he entered a kebab shop in Bath and unleashed a volley of racial abuse at the Turkish chef.

In what the court heard was an "absolutely terrifying" attack, Skipp picked up a knife and threatened to kill his victim, before grabbing him by the throat and shouting and swearing.

Skipp has a history of drug and alcohol abuse, with a string of convictions to his name including common assault and battery, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and robbery.

But, despite the seriousness of his crimes, Mr Justice Griffith Williams said the sentencing judge at Bristol Crown Court had failed to give Skipp a "discount" for his guilty plea.

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