A thug who slapped a police officer before spitting in the faces of two others will have to complete 80 hours unpaid work.

Steven Clarke, who was arrested during the incident in Maidstone on Sunday, February 22, also pulled down his trousers and pretended to have sex with his cell door while in custody.

The 25-year-old later dipped his blue jeans in water and daubed an offensive word in foot-high letters on the cell wall.

Clarke, of Coulsdon in Surrey, was sentenced at Maidstone Magistrates' Court today after pleading guilty to three charges of assault and one charge of criminal damage.

Rachael Laughland, prosecuting, told the court how Clarke was approached by police after annoying passersby in Bank Street at 2am follow a night out.

"This court is tired of offences in the middle of the night in Maidstone involving drunk people..." - Chairman Nigel Cox

The Network Rail employee then slapped PC Baker around the face before running off and eventually being wrestled to the ground by several officers.

While being led to a police van he spat in the faces of constables Dungate and Lawley.

Rebecca Helliwell, defending, said Clarke had travelled to the town for a Saturday night date.

He had become very drunk and the girl he was with had left.

When he was interviewed following the incident, he claimed he had been so intoxicated he could not remember the full details of what had happened.

He apologised to everyone involved and said he had written the four-letter expletive on the wall because he was not getting any attention from officers.

Clarke was sentenced to 80 hours of unpaid work and will have to pay more than £400, including £180 compensation to the three victims and £80 for the damage caused to the cell.

During sentencing, chairman of the bench Nigel Cox said: "This court is tired of offences in the middle of the night in Maidstone involving drunk people."