A Chelmsford man who took part in a filling station burglary in which £3,000 cigarettes were stolen has been spared jail.
Instead Jason Bagalo, 21, of Meadgate Avenue, Chelmsford, who bit the policeman who caught him was given a suspended sentence.
Chelmsford Crown Court was told that Bagalo bit the police officer on the finger. The officer had chased him after he fled from a getaway vehicle following a half hour 120 mph car chase.
Bagao pleaded guilty to burglary at the petrol station at Brook Retail Park, Clacton and to assaulting the police officer.
As he passed sentence Recorder Silas Reid said : "You took part in a professional burglary. You all turned up, smashed your way in and stole cigarettes worth £3,000. When caught you bit a police officer's finger."
The judge imposed an 18 month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered Bagalo to attend a Thinking Skills programme and carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
Prosecutor Sasha Bailey told the court the raid happened on at 10.00 pm on 21 October last year. The gang arrived in a Nissan van and smashed their way in with a metal object. A Vauxhall Astra which was involved also arrived.
Bagalo made his getaway in the Astra and when it was stopped by a police "stinger" device he ran off pursued by police.
When caught he bit the middle finger on the officer's hand.
Two others involved in the burglary have previously been jailed and another given a suspended sentence.
Nicholas McElroy, 23, of Woodford Close, Chelmsford, was given an 18 months suspended for two years with 150 hours unpaid work, Nathan Saunders, 24, of Kennard Street, Silvertown was given three years six months and James Knight, 22, of Richard Street, Plaistow, two years four months.
