A man has been jailed for five months for spitting in a police officer’s eye and hurling racist abuse at another during a violent early morning incident in a residential area of Bradford.

Usman Hussain became angry and aggressive after calling the police himself at 4am on October 23, 2019, Bradford Crown Court heard this week.

Officers went to an address in Clayton in response to a report of a domestic incident, prosecutor David Ward said.

Hussain, 34, of Market Street, Thornton, Bradford, began swearing and shouting after he was handcuffed and arrested at the scene.

He called one police officer “a white bas***d” and became so agitated it was decided to transfer him from a patrol car to a van to transport him to the police station.

As he was being put into the vehicle, Hussain spat in an officer’s face, hitting him in the eye and on his cheek and forehead.

The court heard he had four previous convictions for ten offences, including failing to surrender to custody, battery and two offences of assaulting a police officer.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer as an emergency worker by beating him and racially aggravated threatening or insulting behaviour.

Hussain’s barrister, Jane Bradley, said he had significant mental health problems and a psychiatric report had been prepared to ensure he was fit to plead.

Miss Bradley said all Hussain’s previous offences had been dealt with at the magistrates’ court. The latest offences, although unpleasant, were not the most serious dealt with at the crown court.

He had been experiencing difficult family circumstances at the time. He was sofa surfing because of problems at home.

Hussain had been remanded in custody but he was keen to get back out into the community.

“He desperately needs and wants help,” Miss Bradley said.

Hussain appeared before the court on a video link to Leeds Prison. His microphone was muted throughout the hearing after he became upset and agitated and began shouting.

He did not have a probation report because the interview was impossible to conduct.

Miss Bradley told the court she had managed to speak to Hussain for just ten seconds during the twenty minute conference she had with him before the hearing.

Recorder Judy Dawson said that spitting in the officer’s face was “a wholly unacceptable and vile action.”

Hussain swore at and racially abused another officer after calling the police to the address himself and asking for their help.