A 28-year-old man has been jailed for 16 weeks for assaulting a police officer.

Stuart James Corkill, of Laburnum Avenue, Douglas, admitted the offence and was also sentenced to two weeks to run concurrently for possession of diazepam.

He was also ordered to pay £250 compensation to the police officer.

The court heard that Corkill had struck the officer with an open palm on the cheek as he struggled during his arrest.

He was found in possession of 10 diazepam tablets said to be worth between 50p and £1 each.

Corkill entered a basis of plea saying that he had struck the officer while recklessly flailing his arms around rather than it being a deliberate act.

Defending him in court his advocate Ian Kermode said: ’It’s fair to say Mr Corkill was heavily intoxicated at the time of the offence.

’He had been dropped off by a taxi at his home address. There was an issue raised by the driver and police were called. He was not involved in that incident so he was upset when he was arrested.

’He accepts during the arrest he did flail his arms about and his palm struck the officer but it was an open palm and no injury was caused.

’The diazepam is a class C drug with a total value of £10 obtained from a friend to help with anxiety for his own personal use.’

Mr Kermode went on to ask for credit for his client’s guilty plea.

He continued: ’There were denials in the police interview but he couldn’t remember the incident due to his intoxication.’

The court heard that Corkill had previous convictions for resisting arrest obstructing police and possessing a controlled drug.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes described a probation report on Corkill as ’bleak’ and said that probation had reported that he had shown no remorse.

Mrs Hughes said: ’I don’t doubt alcohol played a role but it was also your attitude towards a police officer going about their duty which led to your arrest.

’Probation have recommended custody and said that you show no interest in engaging with agencies. Given your previous convictions and the report I can find no grounds to suspend the sentence.’