A MAN has been slapped with a community order after attacking a police officer.

Derek Hemphill, 44, pushed Pc Richard Needham with such force that he banged his head on a chest of drawers during a struggle.

Kirklees magistrates ordered him to pay compensation to the officer, who was left with red marks to his head and a cut jaw.

The Huddersfield court was told that on December 15, the officer was called out to deal with an incident at the house on Forest Road, Almondbury.

He arrived to find a woman in the living room who was upset and comforting her son.

Pc Needham was directed upstairs. There he found two officers with Hemphill.

Alex Bosman, prosecuting, said Hemphill was aggressive, pacing and clenching his fists.

“Hemphill went at him, his hands flailing in the air. He took hold of him round his head and there was a further struggle.

“The officer tried to break free from the hold and he was pushed back with full force.

“He fell backwards and banged his head on a chest of drawers, with Hemphill landing on top of him.”

Magistrates were told that one of the officer’s colleagues used CS gas on Hemphill and he was restrained with their help.

The bench was told that Hemphill, of Highfield Crescent in Meltham, was found guilty of the attack following a trial last month.

Magistrates gave Hemphill a community order for two years, including a domestic violence programme.

They also ordered him to pay £100 compensation to Pc Needham and £500 prosecution costs.