A MAN has been jailed for hitting a police constable with a crutch.Daniel Turner saw red when he spotted police officers who had earlier searched his home arresting youths nearby.

A MAN has been jailed for hitting a police constable with a crutch.

Daniel Turner saw red when he spotted police officers who had earlier searched his home arresting youths nearby.

South East Suffolk magistrates heard yesterday how the 20-year-old had shouted from the window in his mother's home in Shackleton Road, to leave the youngsters alone and then emerged from the house with the crutch.

He hit a police constable on the left hand causing severe pain and stiffness to the fingers.

Turner pleaded guilty to the offence, which happened on February 17, at the Elm Street court.

He also pleaded guilty to criminal damage and using disorderly behaviour in a separate incident on January 25 as well as failing to surrender to the court on February 24.

Magistrates heard how Turner who is said to suffer from a personality disorder went to the Children's Resource Centre in Crabbe Street, Ipswich shouting claims that his 13-year-old brother had been raped while staying at the centre six months previously.

Staff at the centre heard huge bangs and smashing windows and found Turner outside, shouting that he was going to kill everyone. A charge of making threats to kill has since been dropped.

Prosecutor Stephen Colman told the court: "He told the staff that he had a knife and wanted to kill them.

"He invited them to go outside so he could fight them.

"A number of police officers attended and he kicked off again smashing another window and was then arrested."

It has since emerged that Turner did not have a knife.

John Hughes, defending, said that as well as suffering from a personality disorder, Turner was also verging on agoraphobia and rarely left the house after he was badly beaten up.

He said he only usually left the house when fortified with alcohol.

Mr Hughes said: "On that day he had been drinking a large amount of alcohol at home and does not really recall much.

"That is no excuse and is just an explanation for why he did it."

Just three weeks later Turner was involved in the incident with the police officer.

For assaulting the officer, Turner was sentenced to 56 days imprisonment. For disorderly behaviour he was sentenced to serve 28 days concurrent and 21 days concurrent for failure to return to court.