A MAN from Leigh has been jailed for four years and four months for a string of offences, including biting and headbutting policemen.

Nicky Appleton, 28, of Priory Avenue, Leigh, pleaded guilty to ten offences involving assaults, possessing cannabis, threatening behaviour, resisting arrest, handling stolen goods and behaving violently in police premises.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that police went to his home on March 26 but he refused to let them in and was aggressively waving a hockey stick and tried to bite and butt an officer.

Appleton was arrested and, as he was concealing cannabis in a bodily cavity, he was taken to hospital.

When he was declared fit for discharge he was abusive to the two policemen guarding him and barged past them and a nurse, causing them minor injuries.

On January 7 Appleton was arrested again on an unrelated matter and attempted to jump out of a window. He cut his finger and leg and had to be taken to hospital.

When he had been treated Appleton was abusive to the police officers and said ‘prison held no fear’ for him and that he had ‘taken out seven bobbies in the last month’.

He grabbed hold of a hospital trolley and pushed it violently towards one of the officers.

A struggle ensued and, even though he was handcuffed, Appleton bit one officer on the arm.

After being taken to the floor he continued to try to bite, baring his teeth, and was abusive.

Defence barrister Phil Astbury said that Appleton suffers from poor health, including epilepsy.

He lives with his partner who is expecting their child in August.

Mr Atsbury said: “He realises he has to grow up and mature and also realises he has issues with his temper.”

Appleton appeared at the court via video link for sentencing yesterday, Wednesday, as did his 40-year-old friend Andrew Smith, from Wigan, who was caught by police in July driving a £38,000 black BMW 5 Series stolen from a burglary in Horwich 36 hours earlier.

Appleton was in the car with him and had the keys for a less expensive BMW 1 Series taken from the same house.

He did not make admissions and was bailed despite already being on bail for public disorder offences.