A DRUNKEN man grappled with police after his teenage son was glassed in the face by gang, a court heard.Stephen Andrews became angry after a large group of youths were causing trouble in the Reynolds Road area.

A DRUNKEN man grappled with police after his teenage son was glassed in the face by gang, a court heard.

Stephen Andrews became angry after a large group of youths were causing trouble in the Reynolds Road area.

Magistrates in Ipswich heard his 15-year-old son needed hospital treatment after the attack on November 21.

Andrews, 49, of Holbrook Road, Ipswich, was given a 12 month conditional discharge after he admitted threatening behaviour and resisting a police officer.

Prosecutor Sandra Dyer said the police officer attended Reynolds Road after reports of the gang causing a disturbance.

Andrews was abusive to the officer and continued to swear at him, despite warnings.

"He pushed the officer to the chest on several occasions and was then arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour .

"The officer took hold of him and his son tried to intervene. Mr Andrews was resisting arrest."

The court heard as he was being arrested Andrews kicked out at the officer, making contact with his shin and ankle area.

The officer ended up on the ground.

Nikki Miller, mitigating, said: "They (the gang) were causing trouble in the area and interfering with the residents who were trying to go about their business.

"Andrews was in the Labour Club with his family when the gang came up to the Labour Club and made threats they were going to torch property in the area.

"His son left the club to go home and on his way home he was glassed in the face with a bottle.

"Andrews said he was very upset and wound up.

"An officer basically told Andrews and other adults there was little they could do to contain the situation because they were short staffed.

"A lot of officers were not in that evening because they were expecting trouble with the rugby the following day because of the cup final."

She told the court during the struggle the officer overstepped his balance and ended up on the floor.

In sentencing bench chairman Peter Page, sitting at the magistrates court in Ipswich, told him: "It was a potentially explosive situation there.

"Your behaviour could have kicked off something with these other people who were in the vicinity.

Andrews, who has no previous convictions, was ordered to pay £50 compensation to the officer and £55 costs.