A Witham man shook hands with a police sergeant on Boxing Day when he saw him in the town.
Leigh Lewis had assaulted the officer last summer when police came to his house to calm a domestic row, Joanne Eley, mitigating, told Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday.
Lewis, 39, of Prior Close, Witham, was jailed for eight months. He pleaded guilty to assaulting the sergeant on June 24.
Cathryn Bradshaw, prosecuting, said officers entered Lewis' home after being called to a domestic incident and saw Lewis sitting on the bottom stair in the hall. He became abusive and told officers to leave.
He put his fingers in the officer's eyes and head butted him in the mouth.
He then apologised and said he was "out of order". The officer went to hospital. He had no lasting effects from his injuries.
Miss Eley said Lewis was depressed and emotional at the time and on medication. He was remorseful.
When he saw the officer in Witham on Boxing Day he apologised, shook his hand and they smoked a cigarette together.
Judge Ben Pearson told Lewis that police officers who were called to pacify domestic situations performed a difficult task. They risked being involved in violence and were entitled to the protection of the court.
Before being taken off to serve his sentence Lewis told the court: "I apologise to the court for my outburst."
Published Tuesday January 6, 2004
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