A JUDGE has spared a father from jail despite his violent and foul-mouthed verbal attack on five police officers.

Mark Howard, 39, of Lynton Gardens, Darlington, was given a suspended prison sentence after a court heard he was well-respected in the community and the drunken assault was completely out of character.

Self-employed Howard was also ordered to pay £250 compensation to the most badly injured of the police officers and £500 towards the cost of bringing the prosecution to court.

Judge Les Spittle told him: "The offence has to be marked by a prison sentence because it has to be understood that those who use violence towards police officers will go to custody. Courts will not countenance it.

"But your behaviour was quite out of character and it stands in stark contrast to what members of the community say."

Judge Spittle suspended Howard's nine-month prison sentence for two years, and also imposed a two-year supervision order.

In mitigation, Jeffrey Hunter provided the court with eight character references.

Sam Faulks, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court yesterday that police were called to a domestic incident at Howard's home at 1.45am on September 21, last year.

Howard's wife told the two officers she wanted him out of the house, but when they went upstairs and asked him to leave he initially swore at them and punched one in the face and head as they tried to arrest him.

Two more officers were called and had to use CS spray to calm Howard down. Once downstairs, he again became violent and further back-up was called, before five constables managed to carry him to a police van.

Howard, who is now living with his elderly parents along with his teenage daughter, admitted affray at an earlier hearing.