A MELKSHAM man who punched a man in the face before assaulting three police officers has been handed a four-month suspended prison sentence.

John Triggs, of Queensway, pleaded guilty to assaulting the man he knew, spitting at one police officer in the face and biting the other two on their arms, making one bleed and need hospital treatment at the RUH.

North Wiltshire Magistrates’ Court heard that the 38-year-old punched an acquaintance in the face on April 10 after a dispute over petrol money broke out, and then became angry with police officers who spoke to him after the incident.

Defending, Cathy Thornton said: “This young man spent a lot of his youth in care and was bullied at school.

“He has been clear of drugs for a long time and has sorted himself out. He met a woman and they have had two children. The incident was just a blip in his upward trajectory.

“My client says he was assaulted by the man and he punched him twice in retaliation. When police arrived he was annoyed at the injustice.

“He accepts that he could have been a bit calmer in the police cell but he said the police pushed him against the ground and put a towel over his head, which transported him back to when he was bullied at school and he reacted.

“If he receives a custodial sentence it could punish the whole family. He is remorseful and embarrassed. A suspended sentence would give him a chance to put things right.”

Giving his verdict, magistrate Anthony Brown said: “You pleaded guilty to four serious offences which we feel crosses the threshold of a custodial sentence, so we are sending you to prison for four months.

“But, we will suspend that sentence for 18 months. If you reoffend in that time you will serve the four month custodial sentence.”

Triggs was also given a three-month curfew which will be monitored by an electric tag and will have to pay a total of £400 in compensation to the police officers he assaulted.