A MAN who was subdued with tear gas after sinking his teeth into the hand of a police officer has been jailed for more than two years.

The officer required surgery after Alfie Butler, 27, launched a “violent and sustained” attack on two police officers in Feering last year.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard police were called after Butler had arrived at a family member’s home, where he began charging the front door.

Richard Potts, prosecuting, said: “He was shouting out to two young children to open the door, shouting that he was their real father.”

Body-worn cameras recorded Butler attacking the two officers.

He left one with a “nasty injury” to his right hand after biting him for more than a minute, a wound which required surgical treatment.

Butler committed the offence while subject to a suspended sentence order.

He also appeared at court to be sentenced for a sexual assault on a prison officer in 2018.

Mr Potts said: “The prison officer saw the defendant pull down his trousers to above his knees, exposing his genitals.

“He then advanced towards her, reaching out to grab her head and pull it down towards his genitals.

“He was subdued and he was to subsequently to indicate in police interview that he knew what he’d done and said that he apologised to her the next day.”

Butler, of St Peter’s Street, Colchester, admitted causing grievous bodily harm, assault on an emergency worker and sexual assault.

Philip Misner, mitigating, said Butler suffered with mental health issues and a drinking problem, and had committed the sexual assault while off his medication.

Mr Misner said the background to the attack on the police officers was “bizarre and erratic behaviour”.

He said: “There was talk of squirrels and the like, he was punching the front door, insisting he was the child’s father, plainly his behaviour could only be described as bizarre.”

Butler was sentenced to a total of two and a half years imprisonment.

Recorder William Clegg QC said: “Police officers and other emergency workers are entitled to the protection of the courts when they go about their business trying to protect the public.”