A SELF-confessed binge drinker who twice headbutted a police car only hours after being arrested for carrying a meat cleaver has told a court he has learned his lesson.

A SELF-confessed binge drinker who twice headbutted a police car only hours after being arrested for carrying a meat cleaver has told a court he has learned his lesson.

After being given an 80 hour community punishment order at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court, Clive Dunn, 20, told magistrates: "I'm really sorry for what I have done".

Dunn, from Woodbridge Road East, had admitted two counts of criminal damage and another of possession of an offensive weapon after being arrested twice on September 5.

Concerned residents called police after they saw Dunn walking down Woodbridge Road East with the meat cleaver on a trip to buy cigarettes just after midnight.

When officers arrested him they could smell alcohol on his breath and he told officers he had drunk nine cans of lager that evening.

He said he was carrying the meat cleaver, which had a six-inch blade, for protection because he owed a lot of money to people.

He was questioned and released on bail at 10.30am that morning but was arrested for a second time at 9pm that night when police were called by a Gordon Road resident who saw Dunn removing a panel from his fence.

Prosecutor Lesla Small told yesterday's hearing that the resident "shouted out to Mr Dunn to say 'what the hell do you think you are doing?'" but he had walked away.

Police found him in Woodbridge Road East.

"They said he was very unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred," Ms Small said.

Dunn was arrested and placed up against the police car but he became verbally abusive, claiming he had done nothing wrong, and then headbutted the car, causing two dents.

During the earlier hearing on September 10 when Dunn pleaded guilty to the three offences the court heard that his parents had been away in Cyprus at the time and Dunn had taken alcohol from their drinks cabinet.

The court was told he had a problem with binge drinking.

Mitigating, Dino Barricella said his client's acts were "truly out of character" and had been carried out during a period of frustration brought about by him being laid-off from his work.

"Mr Dunn is truly remorseful for what he has done," he said.

"Clearly it was a blow to him that at the end of August he was laid-off.

"He has kept his drinking to a minimum since this incident. He has been shaken by (it)."

Mr Barricella told the court that Dunn had since secured employment as a labourer in Martlesham and said the risk of him reoffending had been "minimalised".

"He clearly is ashamed of this incident," Mr Barricella said.

In handing Dunn an 80-hour community punishment order, Magistrate Bernie Stowe told Dunn he had been given credit for his guilty pleas.

She ordered him to pay £10 compensation for the damage to the fence and £34 costs.

She also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the meat cleaver.