A MAN has been jailed after assaulting two police officers in a "shocking" and "violent attack" in Andover.

Casey Harris, of no fixed abode, was convicted of nine offences after pleading guilty at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court on July 14, including four counts of assault, in two of which the victims were police officers.

He was also convicted of criminal damage to property, racial harassment, aggravated vehicle taking, driving a motor vehicle without a licence, and being in charge of a vehicle whilst unfit through drink.

SEE ALSO: Man jailed for repeatedly calling 999 despite being banned from doing so

All of the charges relate to an incident on May 21, 2022 when Harris argued with his girlfriend at the time.

He appeared at Winchester Crown Court on Wednesday, August 31 to be sentenced. 

Prosecuting Shona Probert said: “The circumstances of the matter are that Harris was in a relationship with a woman for around a year. On Friday, May 21 he went to stay with her and they started drinking.

“They started arguing and he punched the TV causing damage to the screen. He also took the keys to her vehicle. She tried to prevent this from happening because she knew he had been drinking and had no driving licence at the time. In order to prevent him she grabbed his arm and he then shouted at her, punched her, and squeezed her thighs.”

Ms Probert said that the woman had bruises to her eyes, arms, forehead and neck, and had “very dizzy spells”.

The court heard that following the argument Harris drove off in the Ford Kuga belonging to the woman and was later spotted by members of the public in Picket Twenty Way. Witnesses said he was in “an odd position” and that he “stumbled and put the keys in the ignition”.

When police officers Alex Peverill and Rebecca Ojelade tried to arrest Harris he assaulted them, causing resident Mark Gilchrist to intervene. Ms Pobert said Harris left PC Peveril with ligament damage, PC Ojelade with bruising, and he headbutted Mr Gilchrist.

In a statement read out to the court by Ms Pobert, PC Peverill said the incident made her “question whether it is worth staying the force".

In her statement PC Ojelade added: “I felt if it was not for members of the public this incident could have gone very badly. I found this incident very scary, and it made me feel that I do not want to go to work.”

In mitigation, Bruno Haine said Harris was drunk and “does not remember any of it".

READ MORE: Goggie, the 14-month-old missing Bearded Dragon, has been found and is back home

Judge Sarah Evans QC sentenced him to 42 months in prison and disqualified him from driving for 39 months.

She added: "Unfortunately when the police were called to what had happened he was aggressive and this was a shocking and violent attack.

"Members of the public tried to intervene and one was also injured. When they eventually had him arrested he made a racist remark.

"This had an affect on their confidence in their job as police officers."

Harris must also pay a victim surcharge of £600.