A MAN today owes a policeman £100 for attacking him while he was being arrested.Samuel Huggins, 33, of Bramford Road, Ipswich, butted Pc John Freer when the officer tried to put handcuffs on him.

A MAN today owes a policeman £100 for attacking him while he was being arrested.

Samuel Huggins, 33, of Bramford Road, Ipswich, butted Pc John Freer when the officer tried to put handcuffs on him.

Pc Freer believed Huggins had assaulted a woman during a fight outside a pub in Orchard Street, Ipswich, on January 24.

The defendant admitted the assault on the officer, but denied the attack on the woman.

South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court heard Huggins was involved in a fight with Linda Smith over comments made about his wife.

Huggins claimed four women assaulted him beforehand and felt that his arrest was "unjustifiable".

Pc Freer arrived at the scene at around 11.15pm and applied a handcuff to one hand when Huggins butted the officer before other officers restrained him.

Prosecuting, Adele Cook, told magistrates Pc Freer later complained of a lump above his right ear and feels pain when he clenches his jaw.

Bench Chairman Nicholas Ridley ordered that Huggins serve 120 hours community service over a one-year period.

Huggins must also pay Pc Freer personal injury compensation and court costs of £55.

Sentencing, Mr Ridley said: "As you must surely know, an assault on a police officer is a very serious matter."

The charge of assault on Linda Smith was dropped although Huggins is bound over to the sum of £100 for the time of his community order.

Should he break the terms of this order, he must pay the compensation payment to Ms Smith.