AN Ellesmere Port man has been jailed for 26 weeks after assaulting a female police officer.

Richard Martin Disbury, 34, of no fixed abode but had been staying in the Ellesmere Port area, pleaded guilty to the assault, which took place on May 10.

Appearing at Chester Magistrates Court on Wednesday, June 8, the court heard Disbury was already known to the probation services and had failed to comply with the requirements of a community order.

That community order had been imposed on March 7 for offences Disbury had committed in Wrexham on January 9, where he persistently misused a public electronic communications network for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience and/or needless anxiety.

He also damaged a North Wales Police custody suite on the same day.

As part of the community order, Disbury was subjected to an alcohol treatment requirement, but failed to turn up for required appointments. He was also due to attend a court date on May 17, but failed to attend, and when a phone call was made to Disbury on May 19, he claimed he had moved out of the area, refused to disclose his location, and ended the call.

On May 10, Disbury had assaulted a female police officer and was found to be drunk and disorderly in Crewe Street, Chester. Disbury pleaded guilty to both offences.

Magistrates sentenced Disbury to 24 weeks in prison for the assault on a police officer and two further weeks in prison for the resentencing of the original offences. He must also pay the police officer £160 compensation.

No order for court costs was made.