A 24-year-old man has admitted headbutting a healthcare assistant and spitting at a prison officer.

Aaron Lee Barnett pleaded guilty to common assault, assaulting a prison officer, threatening to damage property, and attempted criminal damage.

He appeared in court via video link from the prison and will be sentenced on October 5 after a probation report has been prepared with input from mental health services.

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court that, on February 27, Barnett was in a prison cell on remand in relation to another matter.

He urinated against the cell door and when the prison officer opened the hatch, Barnett spat on her face and chest.

On June 21 Barnett called 999 making threats to self harm.

He agreed to meet police on Buck’s Road in Douglas but then became agitated and refused any help.

He was taken to Manannan Court but then told he was being discharged.

This prompted Barnett, who has no fixed address, to become angry again, saying he didn’t want to be discharged.

He called 999 again and swore, telling police he was going to kick a door.

He started kicking a metal door and was restrained by healthcare staff but then headbutted one of them.

Police were still on the 999 call and Barnett then told them: ’I’ve just headbutted a fella. Can you come and arrest me?’

He then started threatening to smash a window and refused to engage with healthcare staff.

Defence advocate Paul Rodgers said that the case had previously been adjourned so that a psychiatric report in relation to Barnett’s fitness to plead could be prepared but Barnett now wanted to enter guilty pleas without a report.

Mr Rodgers said that his client had no bail address so a bail application could not be made at this time.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said that she had no powers to order him to comply with a psychiatric report but would give him another opportunity to do so before sentencing.

Barnett will appear in court via video link again on October 5.