A VIOLENT Carlisle man overpowered by several police officers produced a large knife seconds after he was put into a cell.

Steven Arvids Queen, 37, who had repeatedly threatened the officers who were sent to arrest him, continued being aggressive, stabbing the cell door with such force that the knife broke.

The officers were only able to safely enter the cell to retrieve the weapon after Queen fell asleep, the city’s Rickergate Magistrates Court heard. The defendant, of Atkinson Crescent, Carlisle, admitted six offences.

These were assaulting a police officer, criminally damaging a police cell; damaging police safety shorts; possessing a knife in a public place; threatening behaviour; and theft.

Diane Jackson, prosecuting, said police were called to Petteril Bank Road in Carlisle on June 30 after concerns were raised. She had heard Queen shouting unpleasant things near a Chinese takeaway before he walked into the shop, helping himself to an ice-cream.

He then sprayed an air-fresher at the staff, saying: “Watch what happens to you tonight.”

When police arrived at the street, they found Queen unsteady on his feet, and “foaming at the mouth and dripping saliva,” prompting the police to arrest him, said Mrs Jackson.

As they tried to get him out of the police van at the city’s police HQ, he was aggressive and yelled threats such as: “I know where you live; I’ll smash your faces in.”

Fearing violence, the officers put him a cell. “Within seconds of them closing the door,” said Mrs Jackson “there was a knock on the door and they looked through the hatch and saw him holding a large kitchen knife.

“He began to make threats. He brandished the knife and ignored requests to put the knife down. He began to stab at the door and the officers were fearful to enter the cell because they feared they’d be attacked.”

The defendant damaged the perspex cell door hatch, as well as his safety shorts, valued at £60. It was only after he fell asleep that the knife could be retrieved – but even then Queen woke and spat at an officer. Queen also admitted allowing himself to be carried in a car that was illegally taken.

District Judge Gerald Chalk said his sentencing powers were inadequate to deal with the case. Remanding Queen in custody, he sent the case to Carlisle Crown Court for a hearing on August 4, but also imposed 28 days jail for breaching bail and allowing himself to be carried illegally in a car.