A burglar went into woman's Watford flat and took a shower just weeks after spitting at a police officer and urinating in their van.

Petru Dirtu climbed through an open window at a flat in The Spinney on July 8.

The 27-year-old proceeded to have a shower at the address where a woman had been alone, St Albans Crown Court heard.

He committed the offence just over a month after assaulting an emergency worker in a separate incident on June 3.

Prosecutor Matthew Kirk said officers had been called to an address following an argument, which resulted in Dirtu spitting at a police constable before urinating in the back of a police van.

Watford Observer: Dirtu climbed through an open window in a flat in The Spinney, Watford. Picture: Google Street View.Dirtu climbed through an open window in a flat in The Spinney, Watford. Picture: Google Street View.

When interviewed about the offence he claimed that he had “accidently” spat at the officer because he had an “explosion” in his stomach, Mr Kirk said.

Dirtu, of Girton Avenue, London, NW9, appeared in court on September 24 to be sentenced for burglary and common assault of an emergency worker.

The court was told that he was fined £100 in Magistrates’ Court for urinating in the police van.

He is also of previous good character, the court heard.

Judge Tim Clark said he must have “terrified” the woman whose address he broke into and said it was “disgraceful” that he spat at an officer.

“You should be ashamed of yourself,” he said.

He sentenced Dirtu to four months for burglary and eight weeks for common assault of emergency worker.

But because he has spent several weeks in custody, he will be released on licence.

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