A DRUNKEN man who headbutted a police officer has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Wigan magistrates heard how James Fox, aged 46, of Alice Street, Bolton, was heavily intoxicated when he committed the offence on December 23 last year.

“This was a totally unprovoked assault. Luckily the officer did not receive any serious injury but he was only undertaking his duty and did not deserve to be assaulted by you,” magistrates told Fox, who pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker.

He was ordered to pay the officer £100 in compensation and was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months. He will have to undertake treatment for alcohol addiction, participate in 15 days of rehabilitation activities and pay £213 in costs.