A man will appear in court today charged with allegedly robbing two people at knifepoint and spitting in a police officer’s face in the state’s New England region.

About 3.30pm yesterday (Thursday 20 August 2015), two men were working on a building repair site at Quinn Street, West Tamworth, when they were approached by a man who asked them for cigarettes and money.

When they refused, it’s alleged the 47-year-old man produced a pocket knife and took a mobile phone belonging to one of the men.

Officers from Oxley Local Area Command were patrolling the area and arrested the man in nearby Sue Crescent.

It will be alleged in court that as the officers escorted the man to their caged truck, he spat in the eye of a male Plain Clothes Senior Constable.

The accused man was taken to Tamworth Police Station and charged with robbery armed with an offensive weapon, assault with intent to rob and assault officer in execution of duty.

He has been refused bail to appear before Tamworth Local Court today (Friday 21 August 2015).

The officer was taken to Tamworth Hospital for treatment.