Female cop bitten on face
A MAN who was angry at his neighbour flew into a fit of rage and violently attacked the police who came to her rescue, biting a female officer on the face and punching a male officer.
Bundaberg Magistrates Court yesterday heard David John Vaughan, 25, became outraged in August last year after his neighbour did not come to pick him up from the hospital because she was sick.
"The defendant was knocking loudly (on the neighbour's house)," police prosecutor Sergeant Barry Stephens said.
"He threatened to bash in the head of the male person staying with (the woman)."
Vaughan then went on to smash two windows before attempting to climb through the broken window, despite an occupant of the house hitting him with a hockey stick to keep him from getting inside where young children were.
When police arrived, Vaughan turned his rage on officers when they informed him he was under arrest, pushing a female officer before tackling her to the ground.
Sgt Stevens said while Vaughan had the woman trapped under his body, he bit her on the face below the left eye breaking the skin.
The male officer capsicum sprayed Vaughan who then punched the man, causing police to use a taser and more capsicum spray to subdue him to be arrested.
"(The female officer) was unable to work for a week and has received a visible scar and discolouration to her face."
Sgt Stevens tendered a victim impact statement to the court in which the officer described how after the attack, every time she looked in the mirror she would relive the event.
Vaughan pleaded guilty to assaulting and obstructing police, seriously assaulting an officer and wilful damage.
Barrister Craig Ryan appeared for Vaughan who he said had the mental capacity of a 13 or 14-year-old person due to a cognitive impairment. He said Vaughan did not intentionally punch the male officer and was blindly swinging punches after being capsicum sprayed.
Magistrate Jennifer Batts adjourned the case until April 5.
