A THUG who assaulted seven people during a frenzied spree of attacks will not face an immediate prison sentence.

Ryan Weller, of Museum Street, Colchester, committed 16 crimes on the night between February 18 and 19, including assaulting five police officers.

The 30-year-old also damaged Colchester Hospital and property belonging to Essex Police during his reckless acts.

Essex Police has condemned the attacks on its officers stating any such offence is “completely unacceptable”.

On February 18, Weller assaulted two men in Colchester, before beating three police officers trying to control the situation.

He also admitted two counts of racially or religiously aggravated harassment on the same date when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court.

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Later that day he caused £70 worth of damage to a transport cell in a police car, before vandalising a prison cell to the same cost.

Weller’s trail of destruction continued the next day when he trashed a toilet floor in Colchester Hospital.

The defendant continued his assaults on emergency workers when he beat the same three police officers again before assaulting another two, while his abusive behaviour was deemed to have been an attempt to intentionally harass others.

Condemning the spree of incidents, a spokesman for Essex Police said: “Sadly, at times policing is a difficult and dangerous job and on occasions, officers are required to put themselves at risk in order to protect the public.

“None of our officers should have to put up with being assaulted at work. We cannot underestimate the impact these actions have on our officers and volunteers.

“Anyone responsible for assaulting a member of our staff can expect to be arrested and brought to justice.”

Weller admitted eight counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker, three counts of criminal damage, two further counts of assault by beating, two counts of racially or religiously aggravated harassment and one count of using threatening behaviour to cause harassment.

The 30-year-old was sentenced to 50 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years for his crimes.

He must pay £640 in total to compensate his victims, undertake 20 days of a rehabilitation requirement and must carry out 300 hours of unpaid work in the next year.