A knife-wielding man who sparked a stand-off with police on a Dunedin motorway spat into the mouth of an officer while being apprehended, a court has heard.
Michael Allan Kippax’s first indiscretion, though, came four days earlier on March 18 when he was stopped by police in Oamaru, the Dunedin District Court heard this week.
He gave a breath-alcohol reading of 950mcg — nearly four times the legal limit.
Despite his state, police allowed him to have a cigarette in the police station car park, and he repaid their leniency by kicking the wing mirror of a patrol car, causing it to shatter.
Kippax told officers he had consumed five or six pre-mixed vodka drinks as well as downing straight vodka earlier that night.
In the early hours of March 22, police found the defendant was on SH1 near Lookout Point, brandishing a knife.
Traffic diversions were put in place and negotiations between Kippax and police went on for "an extended period of time", the court heard.
As the stalemate continued, his behaviour became more erratic.
When he moved from one side of the motorway to the other, police swooped in, but Kippax was both physically and verbally abusive.
He was pepper-sprayed into compliance and handcuffed — when hauled to his feet, he lashed out the only way he could.
Kippax spat directly into the mouth of an officer and continued to struggle.
He later fell on to a footpath and kicked out "violently" with both feet, striking the victim in the lower legs and knocking them over.
Judge David Robinson said the police officers were not "punching bags" and a stern response must be adopted.
"Spitting in itself is despicable.
"It puts the officer at real risk of infection," he said.
In the last five months, Kippax’s life had stabilised and he was now living in a supportive environment, attending rehabilitative programmes, the court heard.
The man was convicted of drink-driving, wilful damage and assaulting police, and sentenced to four months’ community detention.
He was banned from driving for eight months and ordered to pay $963 reparation.
