A MAN being led from a house peacefully by police amid domestic tensions suddenly snapped and punched both officers, a court heard.

One blow by Michael James Galloway connected with the chest of one of the constables, but the other was of such force to the face of his colleague that it left him with a double fracture of the cheek.

Durham Crown Court heard that the startled officer stumbled into the road and there were initial fears he would collapse in front of oncoming traffic.

The defendant was restrained with the use of pepper spray, but the most badly injured officer was taken to hospital for X-rays to his injured face.

Jennifer Haigh, prosecuting, said he suffered a fracture to the left side of the face and another under the left eye.

Although he did not require surgery, if left him with headaches and soreness, and he was unable to eat solid foods for some time.

He was off work for four weeks, and, on his return, was restricted to light duties.

His victim impact statement read to the court said he was taken by surprise by the assault and it was the most forcible injury he has suffered while working as a police officer.

Due to the state of his face in the aftermath he chose not to take up an invite to be a guest at a wedding.

The court heard he will suffer a permanent indent to the left cheek, as a result.

Galloway initially refused to accept that the officers were not grabbing him in any way as he was accompanied from a house in St Mary’s Terrace, Coxhoe, on the morning of Sunday June 29, following a dispute with his partner.

But, when interviewed afterwards, he claimed that police were “soft *****” and they ought to carry weapons.

The 31-year-old, of Magdalene Place, Ferryhill, admitted unlawful wounding and assaulting an officer in the execution of his duty.

Laurie Scott, in mitigation, agreed it was, “a disgraceful offence” and accepted the officers acted courteously as they appeared to be striving to avoid a flare-up.

She said the incident was out of character as Galloway, who works on an agency basis doing traffic management duties for the Highways Agency, has few offences on his record.

Jailing him for a total of 25 months, Judge Christopher Prince said Galloway overreacted as the officers appeared to have attempted to deal with the incident in a polite and pleasant manner, trying to diffuse tensions.