Bunbury man Brendon James Morton jailed for attacking stranger with pole, spitting at cop in drug-fuelled rage

A 33-year-old Bunbury man has been jailed after attacking a stranger and later spitting blood at a police officer as four cops tried unsuccessfully to arrest him during a drug-fuelled rage. Brendon James Morton was sentenced to a three year prison term in Bunbury District Court on Monday after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary and commit, assault public officer, obstruct public officers and assault occasioning bodily harm. The court was told stormed into caravan on Adelaide Street in Busselton on January 9 and yelled at two men inside, “Where’s Alicia?”, before assaulting one of them. The men, who did not know Morton or the woman he was looking for, tried to defuse the situation and asked him to leave. Morton punched one of the men in the face before grabbing a 30cm steel extension bar and striking him on his raised forearm. After aggressively opening and shutting a freezer, causing damage, Morton left the caravan carrying the extension bar. Not long after Morton left the caravan, the men called police. When two officers arrived, they told them that Morton had left with a woman named “Sarah”. The officers found Morton and the woman walking on Adelaide Street, telling him that he was under arrest. Morton violently resisted the officers by kicking out at them, prompting them to call for urgent back-up. Despite an additional two officers arriving, Morton continued to violently resist his arrest, forcing the officers to pin him to the ground when he refused to be placed in the back of the police van. When one officer was spat at by Morton while attempting to search his pockets, the police called off the arrest fearing for their safety. It was found there was blood within Morton’s saliva which came into contact with the officer’s uniform. In submissions, Morton’s defence lawyer Twistie Venning told the court his client had been using synthetic cannabis, methamphetamine and alcohol in the lead up to the offending and had previously made arrangements to meet with Alicia, who was revealed to be an ex-partner, in regard to money she allegedly owed him. However, Morton became agitated when the woman did not show up and believed she was “hiding in the caravan”. Mr Venning also told the court Morton formed an incorrect belief that one of the men hit him first and committed an “impulsive act”. In regard to the obstruction and assault of police officers, Mr Venning submitted Morton spat in the general direction rather than targeting an officer’s face. State prosecutor Jackie Stewart said spitting at an officer was a “vile and aggressive act” and was still a serious offence because of the “high risk of transmitting diseases” despite the saliva making contact with the officer’s uniform. The court was also told of Morton’s criminal history which includes several burglaries, assaults and damage to property. In sentencing, District Court Judge Bruce Goetze noted Morton’s offending was “unprovoked violence” which “must have been terrifying” for those involved. “People need to feel safe in their homes and not worry about people like you coming in and threatening violence,” he said. “We also need public order, that’s why we have the police. “Police need to be able to carry out their work without obstruction or being assaulted. “If you spit at people, there are real risks of innocent people catching diseases transmitted to them by your spittle. “In this case, there was potential for things to go horribly wrong.” The prison term was backdated to April and Morton was made eligible for parole in October 2022.