A MAN who spat in a police officer’s face while being arrested, was caught with drugs twice and drove without a licence twice has been told he has avoided jail “by the narrowest of margins”.
Mark Edward Goldie (39) was instead sentenced to 130 hours of community service and fined £2,880.
The Magistrate’s Court heard that the offences covered an eight-month period.
Crown Advocate Luke Sette, prosecuting, said the first offence took place on 16 August last year, when Goldie was found to have both herbal cannabis and cannabis resin in his home.
On 28 November, the States police visited his home, where he violently resisted as officers tried to search him – he was found to have cannabis in his trouser pocket.
Goldie was caught driving without a valid driving licence on 22 February this year and again on 25 May.
And in the early hours of 24 April, he was arrested in the town centre and spat in the face of an arresting officer.
Advocate Sette added that Goldie had numerous previous convictions for assault and possession of drugs.
He also breached a community service order in December 2022 and a probation order in September that year.
Advocate Nicholas Mière, defending, said Goldie accepted he “needed to turn the page”.
Of the spitting at an officer, he said: “He recognises that this was completely unacceptable behaviour.
“He has expressed to me his embarrassment. He is ashamed.”
He described the lack of a valid driving licence as “lapses in failing to organise his affairs”.
Advocate Mière added that Goldie had a steady job as a carpenter and positive references from people for whom he has worked.
“What he is asking for is one last chance to demonstrate that he has turned a corner,” he said.
Assistant Magistrate Adam Clarke said: “There are lapses and there is completely ignoring the law.”
He told Goldie: “The courts have given you the benefit of the doubt.
“You have been offered probation orders and community service orders, and yet again, we’re back.”
He agreed to deal with the offences with community service and fines, and also put Goldie on probation for nine months.
But he warned him: “You are very close.
“You have avoided custody by the narrowest of margins.”
Assistant Magistrate Clarke did not ban Goldie from driving, but endorsed his licence, meaning it will bear a record of the motoring offences for the next three years.
