Kelvin Cornwell was jailed for another attack involving biting

A former soldier who bit a police officer in the arm, causing him to have tests for HIV and hepatitis, has been jailed – for his third biting attack.

Kelvin Cornwell, 32, drew blood in the attack on the officer – despite spitting his false teeth out during the struggle.

Advertisements

But seconds after PC Kelly noticed his arm was bleeding, Cornwell, of Lancaster Road North, Preston, shouted: “To whoever I’ve bitten, it’s OK. I’ve not got HIV.”

It is the third time Cornwell has been sentenced for biting since he was discharged from the army following a helicopter crash in 2000.

In 2005 he was jailed for GBH after biting part of a woman’s ear off and in 2008 he was handed a suspended sentence for a second biting attack on the same woman.

Cornwell, who now works as a double glazing fitter, was arrested after he smashed a friend’s window when he was drunk.

The man – who had invited Cornwell another man back to his house in Chorley after a night put drinking in the town, went to bed but was woken by the sound of his front window shattering.

He called the police and Cornwell was found in the area at around 4.45am on March 22.

Cornwell became aggressive as he was being taken to Skelmersdale police station under arrest and shouted: “You wait till we get to custody and you’ll see what happens.”

On arrival at the custody suite, Cornwell initially refused to leave the van and when he did he became abusive towards the officers who were dealing with him.

He struggled against the officers and spat out his false teeth – at which point officers started restraining him for his own and their safety.

During the struggle PC Kelly looked down to see blood dripping from his arm, and after Cornwell’s comments felt extremely anxious that there was a risk of contracting a blood borne disease.

PC Kelly was taken to hospital where he was given Hepatitis injections and had to supply a blood sample to test for HIV.

In a victim personal statement he spoke of the anxiety of having to wait three months for the results of his blood test.

Cornwell was arrested and admitted he had been binge drinking and had blacked out but that he must have been responsible for the officer’s injury. Cornwell was jailed for 24 weeks for the attack.

Judge Philip Sycamore, sentencing, said: “Fortunately for you it didn’t leave any long term injury but none the less he had the uncertainty of having to undergo hepatitis injections and have blood tests.

“You were arrested and admitted matters in interview.

“You are heavily convicted – 22 convictions for 32 offences – a significant amount of offences.

“The most serious is in 2005 when you went to prison for 33 months for a section 18 wounding and it has been observed that assault involved you biting the complainant’s ear.

“This case is another biting. There are a number of other offences of battery and actual bodily harm, the most recent in April 2011.

Advertisements

“This was aggravated but the fact this involved biting an officer in the course of performing his lawful duties.”