A special constable suffered three broken bones in his hand when he helped to arrest a drunk who had been woken from his stupor, a court heard.

Ian Garcia was one of three officers who had been called to a disturbance between Jamie Harvey and his partner Elaine Hayes at their home in Shakespeare Road, Gillingham.

Harvey had drunk two bottles of wine and was asleep in a chair when they arrived. They woke him up and then took hold of his arms to handcuff him.

But Maidstone Crown Court heard the scaffolder tensed up and became aggressive and abusive. Special constable Garcia went to help his two colleagues but Harvey violently swung his left arm.

The officer immediately heard a snapping sound and felt instant pain. The court was told he spent three months in plaster and may suffer lasting damage and restrictions.

Harvey, 21, later told police he had no recollection of what had happened, save for sitting in a chair and then finding himself lying on the floor, angry and lashing out.

He also asked that his apologies be passed on to the officer and pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm in February last year.

However, the court heard that while on bail he committed 14 further offences, including four common assaults on his girlfriend, Ms Hayes, four of criminal damage, burglary and possession of an offensive weapon, namely a knuckleduster.

Prosecutor Bridget Todd told the court that during one of the assaults on Ms Hayes, Harvey threatened to “beat her black and blue” before holding a duvet over her head so tight that she struggled to breathe.

“She thought she was going to die and told him to think about their daughter,” said Miss Todd.

Another attack occurred in front of their screaming child.

Harvey admitted all the charges and was jailed on Friday (April 8) for a total of 25 months and two weeks. He was also made subject to a five-year restraining order in respect of Ms Hayes, who is expecting their second child.#

Passing sentence, Judge Charles Macdonald QC said Harvey had gone on “a rampage of offending” and that the attack on the special constable was made more serious because of his public role.

“It was quite a serious injury and it had a major effect,” he added.

John Fitzgerald, defending, said Harvey took full responsibility for his life “spiralling” out of control, had voluntarily sought counselling and had openly admitted that prison had “done him good”.

The court heard that Harvey was ‘born and bred’ in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, but moved to Kent after meeting Ms Hayes while working abroad and she became pregnant.

However, Mr Fitzgerald said Harvey “struggled with the responsibility” of working seven days a week and supporting his family.

“In quite a short period of time he lost his job, he started drinking and his relationship split. He didn’t have a roof over his head....no home, no job, no emotional support and he turned to alcohol and was offending left, right and centre.”

Mr Fitzgerald said Harvey and Ms Hayes’ relationship was now at an end.