A FATHER threatened to burn down a police officer's home and punched him in the head repeatedly in front of his newborn baby.

Matthew Lawrence admitted assaulting a constable in the execution of his duty at Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The incident took place in Hawthorn Close, Halstead on February 13.

Henny Tatum, prosecuting, told the court officers were called to the home at 12.42am following reports of a domestic row involving the 29-year-old defendant.

She told the court Lawrence was insisting he be handed his 11-week-old baby to take to his mothers while officers smelt alcohol on his breath.

She said Lawrence was looking for his phone and then tried to grab the phone from his partner before PC Martin Kendrick stopped him and was holding back the defendant.

She said: "The defendant was tensing his body to resist.

"He began to violently strike out at him.

"There was a struggle.

"PC Kendrick was struck to the head a number of times.

"He suffered cuts to his face and a swollen lump on the back of his head.

"The defendant then threatened to burn his house down and 'do him over'."

Evelyn Hicks, mitigating, explained Lawrence has never been in trouble before.

She said the self employed electrician suffers from bi-polar disorder and had been out drinking.

She said: "He has nothing but remorse for his behaviour and he would like to apologise in public for his behaviour and to the officer concerned."

District Judge Susan Holdham said: "Not only is it the assault but it is in the context he said to officers he was going to burn his house down.

"It is a very unpleasant thing to have said to you."

She added: "I am told you regret this. It is a sustained attack. This is not just hitting out.

"It is hitting him a number of times."

Lawrence was jailed for six weeks but the sentence was suspended for 12 months.

He was ordered to pay £300 compensation and pay £200 in costs and charges.