A man tried to punch and bite a police officer as he was arrested for attacking his partner.

Lee Mark Harrison, 39, left his victim with a bloodied face. He then clung onto the sides of the police van refusing to go in as officers arrested him.

Officers were called to a house in Poynton by a concerned friend and found the victim stood in the window distressed and crying for help.

She had blood coming from her nose and lips and swelling to her face, the sentencing hearing at Macclesfield Magistrates Court heard.

Prosecuting, Debbie Byrne, said: “Police got a 999 call from a friend of the victim and when they got there she was at the window distressed and crying for help.

“The officers went into the kitchen where there was shattered glass. The victim said she had been assaulted by the defendant after he forced entry into the house and damaged her phone.

“He was arrested but refused to go outside and resisted arrest. Officers used captor spray but the defendant continued to be aggressive and tried to punch and bite an officer. Other officers attended and took him to the van. He held onto the van doors and refused to let go. The officers had cuts and scratches.”

Harrison, of Sheldon Road, Higher Poynton, was convicted of the assault which took place on April 9 after a trial earlier this year.

He pleaded guilty to criminal damage and resisting two police officers in the execution of their duty at an earlier hearing.

At the sentencing hearing, the court heard he has 18 previous court appearances for 67 offences.

Julian Farley, defending, said he had been convicted without any formal complaint by the victim.

He said: “Her version of things has not been put to the court.

“He grabbed her by the face and pushed her back, that was the extent of the assault and that was what he was found guilty of.

“Their relationship has ended. She has made no application for a restraining order. She has contacted him while he was in the probation office, He wishes to move forward.”

Magistrates gave Harrison a 12 month community order with 30 day rehabilitation programme.

Chairman of the bench Stephen Conquer said: “We are satisfied that this is serious enough for a community sentence. There are issues that require intervention by probation.”