A thug, released on license after being jailed for 11 years for slashing a man across the forehead, punched an officer in the face when they went to arrest him again.
Carl Bonella was given an extended sentence in 2016 after slashing the man during an unprovoked attack in Gillingham.
The then 38-year-old, who at the time lived in Chatham, was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent after the incident, which happened in September 2015.
The victim had been walking along St John’s Road when he was confronted by Bonella, who was holding a bottle above his head. He thought Bonella was about to hit him with it.
The man asked what he was doing and Bonella said he was just ‘kidding’.
He then placed the bottle under his armpit, reached into his pocket and pulled out a Stanley knife before lunging forward and stabbing the man in the head.
He continued to strike him, causing further cuts to his stomach and wrist.
After serving most of the sentence, he was let out early but soon became wanted by the authorities for breaching his licence conditions. The nature of the breach was not revealed in court.
Officers went to arrest him while he was in hospital in Maidstone on March 17 this year.
But when they did, he punched one in the face.
Bonella, 47, of no fixed address, but currently residing in HMP Elmley, was charged with assault on an emergency worker.
He appeared in court the day after he was arrested and denied the allegation.
The case was adjourned, and at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on July 31, he changed his plea to guilty. He appeared via live video link from the prison on the Isle of Sheppey.
James Nichols, prosecuting, said: “Officers arrested the defendant because he was wanted on recall to prison as he was still on license.
“He resisted arrest and punched one officer in the face, causing no injury.
“He’s still in custody serving that recall, so your sentencing options are very limited because of that.”
John Roberts, defending, told the court last time Bonella appeared in court, he wasn’t in a “fit state” and had no recollection of being in the dock. He was then recalled to prison for breaching his license.
He added: “He accepts the evidence, and you have to bear in mind he’s serving an extended sentence of 11 years, which he was given in 2016. He has two more years of that sentence to serve, but he’s yet to have confirmation of that.
“It was one punch. The officers went to the hospital to arrest him for the recall, as he’d had an epileptic fit.
“He’s staying in prison for some time.”
Magistrates decided to fine Bonella £160 for the offence, but said they would deem the fine paid as time served.
