A 25-year-old man has admitted spitting twice in the face of a police officer.

Billy Robert Sumner, of Empire Terrace, Douglas, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer and will be sentenced on August 31 after a probation report has been completed.

Prosecuting advocate Roger Kane told the court that police went to Empire Terrace on June 11 dealing with an unrelated matter.

Sumner was being arrested and taken to the rear of a police van but then started to protest.

Pava spray was deployed and Sumner kicked out his legs and spat at one of the officers with the spit landing on his face and in his eye.

As he was being restrained he then spat again with the spit landing in an officer’s mouth and in his eyes.

One of the officers was taken to hospital and given a hepatitis jab.

When interviewed later Sumner admitted spitting but said he had not been aiming at the officers and had no intent to infect them with anything.

Defence advocate Ian Kermode entered a basis of plea for his client in which Sumner said that he had believed the initial arrest was wrong and he had then been choking after being sprayed with the incapacitant spray.

He said that the first spit had been because he was trying to clear his mouth but admitted that the second had been deliberately in the direction of the officer, though not intentionally at his face.

Prosecutor Mr Kane said that he did not accept that the first spit was not deliberate but said that he did not feel it would make a material difference to the sentence.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes agreed that it would not make a difference to sentencing and ordered that the probation report consider all sentencing options, including custody.

Bail was granted in the sum of £500 with conditions to live at his home address, contact probation, and not leave the island without court consent.