A THUG who hurled vile abuse, spat at police and staged a dirty protest while being arrested has been jailed.

Joseph Dunn was wanted on prison recall when he spotted drinking at the Dorset Arms in Wallsend on May 9 last year.

When he was arrested the 47-year-old defecated in the back of the van, smeared his excrement on the walls and swallowed a small wrap of heroin.

As he was being forcefully removed, he spat in one PC’s face before being sprayed with CS gas, fitted with leg restraints and a spit hood.

On Wednesday Dunn of no fixed abode, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where he admitted assaulting an emergency worker and criminal damage. He was jailed for eight months.

Superintendent Craig Metcalfe said: “All too often we see violent outbursts towards officers for simply doing their job.

“This is completely unacceptable and we will not tolerate it.”