AN aggressive man assaulted a police officer, beating him during a drunken rage at his home.

The court heard how Cheshire Police were called to attend a property on Tilston Avenue in Latchford and after entering the property the defendant became immediately aggressive, hurling abuse towards the officers.

Twenty-two-year-old James Buckley-Mellor appeared before Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday facing charges of assault by beating.

Prosecuting, Angela Blackmore said the offender was found in a room at the back of a house, and when officers approached him, he began shouting a barrage of verbal abuse and insisting they leave the house.

Attempting to defuse the situation an officer followed the defendant into the kitchen where he continued to shout in the faces of the emergency workers before one officer tried to handcuff the offender.

During the commotion of trying to detain Buckley-Mellor, he then became more enraged and wrapped his arms around the officer, attempting to throw him across the room and assaulting him in the process.

The officer in question suffered a wound of a cut hand and resulted in using pepper spray to detract the defendant before eventually successfully handcuffing him.

Buckley-Mellor, who is a father and lives at his mother’s home address claimed he was suicidal and said to the officer at the time, ‘I didn’t mean to assault you bro’.

Defending, Ian Weights said there was ‘genuine remorse’ shown by the offender.

“There was genuine remorse and regret for what happened. He even shook the officer’s hand after the incident.

“It seemed to be a combination of alcohol and emotions.”

Mr Weights explained how the outburst was a result of the defendant being unable to process some difficult news he had been told earlier that day.

Chair of the bench, Lynn Colter-Howard addressed the defendant directly, saying: “You must show respect to police officers.”

“If you want to keep out of trouble and not end up in prison you need to think about these things.”

The defendant was spared jail and was instead handed a 12-month community order with 15 rehabilitation days and 100 hours of unpaid work – plus £334 owed to the courts.