A DAD who sprayed officers with his own blood from an open wound as he tried to resist arrest told a judge he was “having a really bad day” when officers came round to his house.

Ashley Harridge, 35, told Ipswich Crown Court on Friday he had messed his life up “in the space of 12 hours” during an argument with his fiancée.

The court heard how officers arrived at Harridge’s address in Monkwick Avenue, Colchester, in January this year after reports of a disturbance.

He was heard to say he would “kick off” if he got arrested, prompting another officers to arrive – when he saw them, Harridge then shouted “I thought you were just coming for a chat – there’s loads of you.

“You’re not coming in my house – this is my house.”

As officers tried to arrest him, a bandage which Harridge had on his arm from trying to punch in a car window became dislodged.

John Livingston, prosecuting, said: “Blood went everywhere, including over his mum’s rug.

“As Harridge was resisting he wrapped his leg around PC Hesketh to stop him from walking and grabbed his stab vest, made a lunging movement tried to headbutt him.”

When a officer tried to put Harridge in handcuffs, he shoved her away.

As the commotion unfolded, a third police officer entered the address and used pepper spray on Harridge who responded by spitting at one of the officers.

Mr Livingston continued: “The officers were by this time covered in blood and Harridge said, ‘Have some of that’ and sprayed them with blood.”

He was then taken to accident and emergency for treatment and later admitted three charges of assaulting an emergency worker.

A fourth charge of having a knuckle duster was dropped by the prosecution.

Harridge, who has previous convictions for theft, burglary, sexual assault, criminal damage, and drug possession, told a judge at the time of the offence he was “having a really bad day”.

He said: “It was a horrible, horrible day.

“If I could go back and change it, I would – but I can’t.

“I don’t indulge in any drug taking or thuggish behaviour.

“I have three step-children – we have had social services come to the house, go the schools, and scare the children.

“I lost my temper that day.”

Judge Nicola Talbot-Hadley sentenced Harridge to a two-year community order including 40 rehabilitation days and 80 hours of unpaid work.