A man has been handed a 20-week sentence, suspended for two years, as well as a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order after he assaulted a Telford police officer, causing an injury to their head.

Andrew McNab, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage, escaping from lawful custody and breach of a suspended sentence order at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Tuesday, 2 December.

During the hearing, the court was told how officers received a report that a man had damaged a car on Stafford Street in St Georges, Telford, on 2 October.

When officers arrived they found McNab in the street shouting and making threats to members of public.

The 40-year-old was arrested and taken into custody. While in custody McNab complained that he was in pain following a collision with a vehicle.

Officers then took McNab to the hospital where he assaulted one of the officers, causing a cut to the back of their head.

McNab was subsequently charged and remanded in custody to await trial.

Sergeant Richard Jones said: “This was a nasty and unprovoked attack on one of our officers, who was simply doing their job. He also caused alarm and distress to members of the public.

“I am pleased McNab has been given a CBO by the judge, which means he cannot enter certain areas within Telford, and if he does breach the order, it could mean he faces a further custodial sentence.”

McNab’s CBO will run until December 2030 and means that he cannot enter Telford Town Centre, unless for pre-arranged appointments with support services. Sainsbury’s on the Holyhead Road in Ketley or Co-Op on Stafford Street in St Georges.

A CBO is a civil order designed to tackle the most serious and persistent anti-social individuals. The powers to issue a CBO are contained in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, where behaviour has found to have caused alarm, distress or harassment.

Anyone who sees McNab in breach of his CBO or committing an offence should report it to the police immediately.