A MAN who doused himself in deodorant and walked into Newport Police Station holding a lighter yesterday (Thursday), demanding the police take him seriously, has appeared in court this morning.

Ryan Bentley, 23, of no fixed abode, appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court, where he admitted one count of using threatening words and behaviour, and two counts of assaulting a police officer.

The court heard he went to the police station shortly before 5pm to complain the boat he had arranged to live on, moored at Newport Quay, had left the harbour with all his belongings on board.

Police told him it was a civil matter, not a criminal one.

Bentley then left the police station, only to return shortly afterwards — covered in deodorant and brandishing a lighter.

Vivian Ducie, prosecuting, said: "He returned to the station, threatening to set himself alight.

"Once he was detained, he became increasingly aggressive. He was put in restraints and taken through to the custody area, where he spat on one officer and kicked another in the abdomen."

In a statement read to the court, PC Gemma Phillips said: "In the length of my entire service, I have never seen anything like this. Never once have I been brought to tears in the way this has caused."

The court heard officers surrounded Bentley in the reception area of the police station, where he was sprayed with a fire extinguisher before being taken to the ground.

Keith Verrinder, defending, said: "He tells me he has effectively been homeless for three years.

"He did make a temporary arrangement with a gentleman to live on a boat on the Newport Quay, but that same day he discovered the boat had gone and his property had been disposed of.

"When the police told Bentley that this was in fact a civil matter, he was so dejected that he got some deodorant, a whole can, then went back to the station to make his protest.

"He accepts he spat at one officer and kicked another."

Magistrates adjourned the case until September 10, when Bentley will be sentenced.

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