A PRISONER who spat at a district judge during a prison hearing landed in court yesterday (Tuesday).

Josh Courtney, 26, who is serving more than ten years at HMP Isle of Wight, Parkhurst, for rape and grievous bodily harm, had a hearing in the prison for possession of the drug spice.

He denied having the drug, but during an adjudication, the district judge, Timothy Pattinson, found him guilty, Ann Smout, prosecuting, told Isle of Wight Magistrates.

Courtney became abusive to the judge and when he was told to be quiet, he spat, narrowly missing the judge.

Prison officers began to pull him out and Courtney pulled his head back and flung a mouthful of spit across the room, this time hitting the judge, Mrs Smout said.

The judge said he feared for his safety because the defendant was brave enough to spit at him in his position as a district judge.

When asked if he had any contagious diseases, Courtney told prison officers to tell the judge he had AIDS.

Courtney pleaded guilty in the magistrates court to assault for the spitting.

For Courtney, Oscar Vincent said: "Mr Courtney maintains that he was innocent of having spice. He was disappointed that the judge ruled against him.

"In retrospect, he accepts that his behaviour was inappropriate and wants to apologise to the district judge."

Magistrates sentenced Courtney to two weeks custody, concurrent to the sentence he is already serving. He will also have to pay a £115 surcharge when he gets out of prison.