Violent drunk jailed for biting police officer after shocking attack in Halifax

A violent drunk has been jailed for three years after a judge was shown shocking footage of his unprovoked attacks on a man in Halifax pub and a police officer following his arrest.
Elland man Daniel Brearley, left, has been jailed after biting a police officer during his arrest. Right, the injuries that the police officer suffered.Elland man Daniel Brearley, left, has been jailed after biting a police officer during his arrest. Right, the injuries that the police officer suffered.
Elland man Daniel Brearley, left, has been jailed after biting a police officer during his arrest. Right, the injuries that the police officer suffered.
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Elland man Daniel Brearley was caught on CCTV smashing a pint glass into the face of Ashley Dodd during an incident at the Courtyard pub and after his arrest the handcuffed 43-year-old was captured on bodycam footage biting into a police constable's finger.

Brearley, of Old Mill Mews, pleaded guilty to wounding his friend Mr Dodd when he lashed out with the pint glass and also admitted a charge of assault in respect of the officer.

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The court heard that Brearley had previous convictions for violence and had spat at officers in the past.

Prosecutor Andrew Horton said Brearley had been asked to leave the pub because of his aggressive behaviour and Mr Dodd had been trying to calm him down when he suddenly smashed the empty pint glass into his friend's face.

The glass shattered on impact and although Mr Dodd only suffered a cut under his eye Judge Jonathan Rose told Brearley he could have blinded his victim or left him badly scarred.

The judge was also shown the officer's bodycam footage of Brearley sitting handcuffed in the rear of a police car and being told to get out if he wanted to spit.

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After getting out Brearley is filmed spitting on the ground and then heard threatening to spit in the officer's face.

As the officer put his left hand near Brearley's mouth the defendant bit down hard on his little finger causing him "immense pain".

While Brearley is restrained on the ground the footage shows the officer receiving treatment for the bite wound to his finger.

The court heard that Brearley had 36 previous convictions for over 60 offencss on his record and at the time of the two attacks in August he was already subject to two community orders.

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Judge Rose said Brearley had acted "like a savage" in biting the officer and custody could be the only outcome for those who attacked officers.

The judge noted that since the incident the officer had laboured under the fear that Brearley may have infected him with a disease and he also said the defendant had expressed no remorse.

"The blame you tried to attribute to Mr Dodd and the officer demonstrates that you do not have any remorse for those people both of whom were entirely innocent victims of your vicious behaviour that night," said the judge.

Brearley was jailed for 16 months for each attack with an additional four months imposed in place of the two community orders.