A thug lashed out at two off-duty transport police officers on a train after accusing one of them of looking at his girlfriend’s breasts, a court heard.

Jason Smith fled bare-chested leaving DC Andrew Parkinson covered in blood with a broken nose.

The violence was captured on CCTV cameras and shown to a jury at Maidstone Crown Court this week.

Smith, of Newbridge Avenue, Sittingbourne, denied two charges of assault causing actual bodily harm.

He was convicted of assaulting DC Parkinson and cleared of assaulting Sgt Patrick Kerr.

The two officers had been to a social function in London and had reached Gillingham on a train from St Pancras just after 10pm on December 11 2012 when Smith, 24, and his girlfriend got on.

Prosecutor Bridget Todd said soon afterwards Smith swore at Sgt Kerr, accusing him of looking at his girlfriend. The officer told him to mind his language and to stay in his seat.

As the train approached Rainham, Smith again swore at Sgt Kerr. The officer pointed out that they were “Old Bill” but Smith continued to be abusive.

DC Parkinson stood up and, believing he was going to be struck, pushed Smith away.

Smith then punched the officer in the face. A struggled ensued during which his shirt came off.

Sgt Kerr tried to restrain Smith and was punched a number of times, it was alleged. DC Parkinson restrained the girlfriend.

Smith then struck him, knocking him to the floor before running out of the carriage. His girlfriend picked up his clothes and followed.

When arrested a few days later he claimed his girlfriend had complained to one of the officers: “What are you looking at my breasts for?”

Smith, who did not give evidence, said he was defending himself and his girlfriend and did not know the two men were police officers.

DC Parkinson told the jury Smith’s girlfriend started saying ‘What are you looking at?’ to Sgt Kerr after they joined the train at Gillingham.

Smith became abusive and attempts were made to placate him. When they reached Rainham, Smith told Sgt Kerr: “I am going to give you a ------- slap.”

The officer replied: “We are Old Bill. If you want to carry on this conversation you can do so. It will be on the platform. You are going down the road.”

Smith went towards them and DC Parkinson said he pushed him into a seat. He then felt a slap from the woman.

“I forced her down onto the seat,” he said. “I said to her I was a police officer and I was nicking her for assault. She stopped struggling and I let go of her.

“I saw the man coming towards me. I saw a fist come straight to my face. It smashed into the bridge of my nose. It was very painful. I think I collapsed onto the seat" - DC Andrew Parkinson

“I saw the man coming towards me. I saw a fist come straight to my face. It smashed into the bridge of my nose. It was very painful. I think I collapsed onto the seat.

“There was a lot of blood. I was just completely out of it. I woke up. I was covered in blood. I had a double break to my nose. It had to be reset. I also had a deep cut to my lip.”

Judge Philip Statman adjourned sentence for a report until March 5, but warned Smith he could be jailed. Bail was granted and a curfew from 7pm to 7am was imposed.

He told Smith, who was subject to a community order and under supervision: “This was an ugly incident.”