A SOUTHAMPTON man spat directly in a police officer’s face during lockdown, a court heard.

Lee Gibbon became aggressive and abusive when asked by police to move on from Weston Shore, Southampton.

Prosecution barrister, Jai Patel, said: “Mr Gibbon and two others were on Weston Shore. Members of the public had informed police of their presence there because it was during the last lockdown and congregating was not permitted in public places.”

Mr Patel added that the group had been drinking and was told to disperse.

However, they refused and became argumentative.

Gibbon, 38 of Spring Road, Sholing, then threatened to break an officer’s jaw.

He was described as aggressive, shouting and swearing.

Gibbon was eventually put in handcuffs and taken to the ground.

But while being searched, he spat directly in the face of an officer.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, he was charged with assaulting an emergency worker and burglary - to which he pleaded guilty.

During the time of the offence on April 4 last year, he was in breach of a conditional discharge he had been given for assaulting another emergency worker.

The court heard that Gibbon has 25 previous convictions to 49 offences.

Many of these involve violence.

Defending, Emily Lanham, said her client apologised for his actions and regretted what he had done.

Gibbon stood in the dock alongside Callum Knox, 35, of Woodside Road, Eastleigh.

They were both charged in connection with a “smash and grab” burglary at a jewellery store in Basingstoke which happened on February 24 last year.

The court heard how just short of a quarter of a million pounds in stock had been stolen.

Both men pleaded guilty to their part in the heist.

Judge Peter Henry jailed Gibbon for 36 months.

Meanwhile, Knox was sent down for 46-months.