A date then drinking with friends ended with a trainee insurance broker being brought before court for resisting arrest.

Wesley John Clarke, aged 34, of Bluebell Close, unintentionally elbowed a police officer in the face as they tried to detain him after a night out on March 10.

He was sentenced to 80 hours of community service and was banned from purchasing or being sold alcohol for three months.

Prosecutor James Robinson told the court how, on March 10 at 3.35am, police saw Clarke in Church Street where he appeared to be urinating against a police car. They couldn’t confirm this as it was raining.

Clarke was unsteady on his feet, slurring his words, and smelling of alcohol. He refused to give his details and became increasingly belligerent.

He told police he paid taxes and it was all ’a waste of time’. He was eventually arrested but tensed up and swore as officers tried to detain him.

When he was told to calm down Clarke squared up to police, gesturing his head back and forth, and puffing his chest out. He pulled his arms away as police attempted to handcuff him and his elbow hit one officer in the face.

Clarke was put to the ground and taken to police headquarters where he then gave police his details.

A basis of plea was entered that he had not intended to elbow the officer.

Advocate Darren Taubitz said his client had abstained from alcohol for a number of months before the incident and had limited recollection of events. ’He wishes to apologise to police,’ said Mr Taubitz. ’Had he been sober this incident wouldn’t have occured.

’He was the victim of an assault where the individual was punished at the Court of General Gaol Delivery. That has had quite an impact on him.’

A probation report said Clarke had been out on a date then had bumped into friends and continued drinking.

The report said he had been suspended from his job due to the proceedings. A second charge of being drunk and disorderly was withdrawn.