Sigitas Noreika, 48, of Liquorpond Street, pleaded guilty at Boston Magistrates' Court on Wednesday to assaulting an officer, who was attempting to arrest him on suspicion of assault.

Jill Darby, for the Crown, told the court that on April 24, at 11pm, police were called to Noreika's home address following reports of a domestic disturbance.

Once inside, a female pointed them in the direction of Noreika, who was waving, shouting, and smelt of alcohol.

Police suspected an assault had taken place and attempted to arrest Noreika, the prosecution said.

Noreika punched one of the officers on the left side of his face, and then kneed him in the groin.

"As a result of this he had pain and discomfort to his groin," said the prosecution.

In mitigation, Rachel Stevens told the court her client had unexpectedly been put out of work that morning.

As a result, she said, her client then began drinking heavily.

She added that her client was taking medication for a head injury that affected his ability to handle stressful situations, which taken with alcohol would have had an effect on his behaviour.

In addition, he was only wearing trousers at the time of the arrest, and if he was going to be taken into custody, he wanted to be dressed properly, she told the court.

She said: "He is very, very remorseful; he very much regrets the injury to the officer.

"This behaviour is out of character; he has great respect for the law and would normally have been very cooperative."

Chairman of the magistrates Trevor Page told the father of one that the starting point for an assault on a police officer is usually a prison sentence.

"However we are taking into account your early guilty plea and the fact that this was some kind of impulsive action," he said.

Noreika was fined £80 for the assault, ordered to pay £70 as compensation to the officer, £60 costs, and the £15 victim surcharge.