A serial offender spat at police officers and threatened to infect them with Hepatitis B and Aids, a court heard.

Jonathan Cross, aged 48, and of Broadwey Close, Weymouth admitted at Weymouth Magistrates Court to being drunk and disorderly in a public place, uses threatening, abusive or insulting words to cause harassment, alarm or distress, common assault and causing criminal damage to property valued under £5,000.

Prosecutor Lee Turner said on June 26, 2017 police received complaints of two men who were reported to be drunk and smashing bottles at Littlemoor Shopping Centre.

On arrival, police officers asked the men, one of whom was Cross, to move on as they were swearing loudly and there were children nearby.

When they continued, Cross was arrested. The court heard how Cross spat at officers, shouting: “How would you like to get Hepatitis B.”

Once in the back of the police car, Cross spat several times in the back of the car which Mr Turner said left it in need of a ‘deep clean.’

Mr Turner said later that week on July 1, police were called to Upwey by the ambulance service.

Officers were tasked with assisting two paramedics who had been verbally abused by Cross while trying to attend to him.

Cross told paramedics he had taken diazapam.

Cross told officers: “I’m going to spit in your face and give you all Aids.”

On July 19, police were again called to an incident involving Cross in Meadow View Road.

Mr Turner told the court Cross had been verbally abusing a pregnant woman, calling her ‘fat’ and obscenities.

Cross spat at detention officer Dennis and Mr Turner said spittle landed on the officer’s head and chest. Cross also spat at custody forensic health care professional Gail Jones.

Whilst in detention Cross urinated in the police custody cell.

Aileen Tring, defending, said Cross was someone who had been through the courts on many occasions and that alcohol and drug abuse were responsible for all his criminal behaviour.

She added although Cross had been subject to community orders in the past with which he had not engaged, he now showed motivation to ‘get sorted’ as the substance abuse had begun to take a toll on his health.

Chairman of the bench Sara Saunders said a number of Cross’s offences were ‘very unpleasant’ and his crimes were serious enough to impose a community order.

“Spitting is the most disgraceful thing to do. We understand you are motivated to change you life - let’s hope you do that,” she added.

Cross was ordered to wear an electronic tag and a curfew was put in place stating he could not leave the house between 6am and 6pm for eight weeks. He was also ordered to take part in a drink and drug rehabilitation programme for six months and pay £100 compensation to both officer Dennis and officer Jones and pay £120 for the cleaning of the police car and cell.