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A "revolting" burglar swung a crowbar at a policeman before spitting in another officer's face.

Stephen Martin, 37, and an accomplice were caught trying to break into Vets4Pets in Woodchurch Road, Birkenhead .

Police were called to the scene after they failed to force open a door at the shop, at around 2am, on August 12 this year.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Martin, who was holding the crowbar, ran off when officers approached in a police car.

Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, said: "As one officer went to get out of the motor vehicle the defendant swung the crowbar at him.

(Image: Merseyside Police)

"The officer ducked and it collided with the police car, without causing any damage. He ran off and the officer gave chase."

Martin, of Tapestry Gardens, Birkenhead, dropped the crowbar as he tried to escape by climbing over a nearby wall.

The bungling crook injured himself when he dropped over the other side and was caught hiding behind a car on a driveway.

Mr Blasbery said: "Whilst placed in the police car he spat over the gear stick controls, the seats and the dashboard.

"At the police station he was placed in a cell and when an officer opened the cell hatch to check on his welfare, he saw the defendant jump up from behind the door.

"He spat through the hatch, which hit the officer directly on the front of his forehead and glasses. He also spread food round the cell in apparent protest."

Martin was described as being "abusive and argumentative" during a police interview, when he was "goading" the officers and denied the offences.

He admitted attempted burglary, two counts of common assault and two counts of criminal damage.

Martin has 46 previous convictions for 91 offences and was once the ringleader of a Wirral gang who targeted ATM machines across the country.

He was linked to 18 out of 20 raids from July 2011 to January 2012, which saw more than £200,000 in cash and goods including luxury watches stolen.

The gang used angle grinders to break into safes and free-standing ATMs at convenience stores, garages, social clubs, a restaurant and a golf club.

They caused more than £50,000 of damage in total during a six-month spree, which saw Martin jailed for six years for burglary, in September 2012.

(Image: MEN)

John Weate, defending, said his client's licence period had expired before this latest offence and that he had stayed out of trouble for three years.

He said Martin had two children, aged eight and 10, with his partner, with whom he had been in a relationship for 15 years and was living at the time.

However, he said he was convicted of drug driving this spring, which brought police to his front door, and led to his girlfriend throwing him out of the home.

Mr Weate said Martin "reverted to type" and started drinking and doing drugs, but his partner, sitting in the public gallery, was now willing to take him back.

He said: "He accepts his behaviour following arrest was appalling. He very much hangs his head in shame. Through me he apologises for that behaviour."

Recorder Mark Jewell, QC, said Martin had shown over three years he was "capable of leading a law-abiding life" but had "gone back to his old ways".

The judge said "happily" he did not injure the officer he swung the crowbar at, but told Martin his behaviour after his arrest was "disgraceful".

He said: "What you did by spitting all over the police car and spitting in the face of the police officer who was only doing his job by checking up on you in your cell was disgusting.

"It was a revolving thing to do especially to police officers who are carrying out their job and they should not be treated in that way."

Recorder Jewell said he was giving Martin a chance and handed him 12 months in jail, suspended for 18 months, plus a 35-day rehabilitation course.