A Tauranga man who spat on a police officer after biting the hand of his partner and pinning him against a patrol car door so hard he struggled to breathe faces a lengthy prison term.
On May 3, Bradley Ryan Kemp, 34, was in the back of a patrol car after his arrest, the police summary of facts showed.
As the patrol car travelled over the Tauranga Harbour Bridge, Kemp bit down on the top of the first victim's hand.
A struggle ensued during which Kemp kicked out at the same officer with one leg, pinning the sergeant to the patrol car door by his throat.
Kemp held his foot against this victim's throat with enough pressure to restrict his breathing before the officer elbowed the defendant to free himself.