Man bites police officer four times, escapes jail term
BITING a police officer on the arm four times almost landed a Gladstone man behind bars.
But luckily for Matthew Ryan Lee, his teeth didn't break the skin, so he only received a suspended sentence when he appeared in Gladstone Magistrates Court on Monday.
It was just after 1am on November 11 when the 22-year-old got involved in a verbal argument outside Bojangles nightclub on Goondoon St.
It wasn't long before it escalated into a punch-up with a large audience. A police officer grabbed Lee from behind and tried to restrain him in a headlock.
Startled, and unaware it was a policeman, Lee bit into the man's arm four times.
He faced three charges - serious assault or obstructing a police officer, public nuisance, and contravene direction or requirement of police.
Lee was convicted with four months imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of 18 months.
He was also fined $1400 for the three charges, with his conviction recorded.
