A SELF-EMPLOYED carpenter shouted and swore at his neighbours – then injured a police officer who turned up to intervene, a court heard Gerald Morgan, of Queen Anne Road, West Mersea, had been drinking vodka because his partner of ten years had left him the day before, Colchester Magistrates’ Court was told.

Lucy Miller, prosecuting, said the 45-year-old was swearing and shouting in his back garden on June 1 when police arrived.

She said: “The neighbours were looking over at what was going on, as well as other members of the public walking past.

“He was clearly under the influence of alcohol.

“He took objection to police officers following him in to his house while he secured his dog.”

The court heard how an altercation between Morgan and the police officer resulted in the PC injuring his thumb.

Morgan was arrested and taken to Colchester police station.

He admitted assaulting a police officer and breaching an antisocial behaviour order at court.

Louise Reader, mitigating, said: “He didn’t know what he was doing and he was extremely sorry for assaulting the police officer and was still feeling drunk during the course of the interview.

“It is clearly an issue with alcohol.”

District Judge David Cooper said it was a “dismal tale”.

Mr Cooper said: “I accept that you were going through severe emotional distress, but please think of your neighbours.

“Everyone goes through hard times without abusing people, so if you are going to drown your sorrows, can’t you just do it behind closed doors quietly?”

Morgan was ordered to pay £200 compensation, £250 for breach of a suspended sentence and £75 court costs.

Mr Cooper said: “You are a decent person, you are a hard working person, but like so many defendants you are enslaved to the bottle.”