A serving Metropolitan Police officer from Gravesend has been sentenced after headbutting the manager of a cocktail bar.

Luke Wilson, 28, received a suspended prison sentence, a fine and a community service order on Tuesday at Westminster Magistrates' Court, for common assault and battery, following the attack in July last year.

He was previously found guilty by a district judge at the same court, after a one-day trial on Wednesday, March 9.

The assault took place on Friday, July 2, when Wilson attended a cocktail bar in Monument with a group of off-duty police officers.

Having arrived at the bar at 7.30pm, the group was told there were too many of them according to coronavirus restrictions in place at the time.

The bar manager allowed them to enter but told them they would have to be seated across different tables in line with the rule of six restriction.

CCTV footage showed that by 8pm, some of the group had started moving between tables which resulted in 10 people being sat at one of the tables.

The manager spoke to Wilson and explained this was not allowed and then approached the group of 10 to explain four of them would have to move.

Wilson followed the bar manager to the table but remained standing up and the bar manager asked him to return to his table.

CCTV footage showed Wilson squaring up to the victim and putting his face within a few inches of the victim's.

The victim took a step backwards to distance himself from Wilson, but Wilson stepped forward and headbutted the victim, causing minor injuries.

The officer was interviewed the following day and denied the offence, claiming he felt threatened by the victim.

When he was shown CCTV footage of the victim standing with his hands in his back pockets and not appearing to be behaving aggressively, he declined to comment further.

Wilson was sentenced to 10 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, 80 hours unpaid community service, pay £700 in costs, pay £200 compensation to the victim and pay a victim surcharge.

Temporary Detective Constable MacLennan, from the City of London Police, said: “This was an unprovoked assault on a victim who was simply trying to do his job.

"The victim felt he could trust the group due to their profession, but his trust in the police has now been damaged by this attack.

“I hope that the sentence passed down today brings some justice to the victim and demonstrates that no-one is exempt when it comes to upholding the law in the City.”

The Met Police said misconduct proceedings would take place now the criminal case had concluded and that PC Wilson was serving on restricted duties.