A CALNE man attacked a police officer in a drunken rage in the town’s High Street, a court heard on Monday.

Lance Shane Conan Buchanan, 26, of Braemor Road, pleaded guilty when he appeared before Chippenham magistrates’ to being drunk and disorderly in a public place and assaulting a police officer.

Buchanan who was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work over the course of a 12-month community order, said: “I’m sorry for what I have done.”

On September 17 he was ejected from the Kings Arms pub at around 8pm in a drunken state. Police were alerted when he started kicking a door but when he was arrested he tried to break free from the female police officer before he attacked her colleague, Sgt Phillip Connor.

Keith Ballinger, for the prosecution, said: “He was thrashing around. When her colleague arrived, Sgt Connor noticed his speech was slurred and he was trying to break away. He started spitting in the direction of Sgt Connor.”

Sgt Connor attempted to use a spray to stop Buchanan attacking, but the officer was hit on the elbow and left with a ‘dead arm’ and the spray fell to the ground.

Buchanan was fitted with leg restraints but fell unconscious and was taken to hospital.

The following day he told police he could not remember the incident.

He claimed to have had up to five pints of lager and suggested someone may have spiked his drink.

Buchanan faced court in March for a public order offence. He also had previous convictions for being drunk and disorderly and assaulting a police officer.