A young but seasoned criminal who bit a Policeman's finger was sent to jail by Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves yesterday.

Twenty-two year old O'Shay Swan pleaded guilty to using offensive language, violently resisting arrest, assaulting a Police officer and unlawfully destroying property. Mr. Greaves sentenced him to six months in prison on each count to run concurrently.

According to Police, reports of a man creating a disturbance in Par-la-Ville Park were recorded at 4.30 p.m. on June 19. When officers arrived on the scene, a complainant told them that Swan had been knocking down benches in the park.

Swan told Police: "Why the f*** are you worrying about me? I kicked over the benches because he wouldn't leave me the f*** alone."

After being cautioned by Police that using such language constitutes an offence, the man replied: "Leave me the f*** alone. All you guys can f*** off."

When Police approached the defendant to place him under arrest, he began scratching officers with his fingernails and swung punches at them, during which he said: "You f****** guys can't hold me."

He then proceeded to bite an officer's finger on his right hand, causing the him to have to go to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

It took several officers to handcuff Swan and take him to a Police car. While handcuffed, he knocked down several motorbikes, damaging them.

Once inside the car, Swan kicked the rear side window, causing it to shatter and send a spray of glass onto Police still standing outside the car. Several of the officers received minor cuts as a result. He was then taken to the Hamilton Police Station.

The young man, of no fixed abode was not a newcomer to Magistrates' Court. According to Crown counsel Wayne Caines, Swan had a string of prior convictions ranging from breaking and entering, possession of offensive weapons, assault, and stealing.

Mr. Caines described the defendant as having "absolute absence of self-control".

Mr. Caines added: "He has a problem with anger management and a problem with Police officers."

Mr. Greaves said: "This man has committed so many crimes, he's had so many chances. He been given probation, conditional discharges, hours of community service, fines - everything. Anybody who listened to the facts would lock up this man."

Mr. Greaves then asked Swan: "What are you going to do with your life son? You're a strong guy. You should be playing some serious basketball or boxing for this country."

Before Mr. Greaves sentenced him to time at Westgate, he told Swan: "You don't seem to act like a swan. Swan's are gentle."

Mr. Greaves concluded by saying he hoped the anger management programme and psychiatrists at Westgate would help him sort out his life.