A man faces losing his job after he erupted into violence while high on drugs.

Police had to use pepper spray on Michael McLelland after he became ‘extremely volatile’ while high on crack cocaine, a court heard.

The 35-year-old smashed up his house prompting his desperate and frightened girlfriend to call the police, a court heard.

At Macclesfield magistrates’ court, McLelland, of Pine Road, Macclesfield, admitted possessing cocaine, criminal damage and assaulting a police constable.

He was sentenced to a community order with Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for 25 days.

But the court heard that McLelland had hidden his crack addiction from his employers and now faced the sack.

Debbie Byrne, prosecuting, said: “On August 27 at 9.15pm the defendant picked up his girlfriend from Macclesfield train station. On the journey home she became concerned he was under the influence of drugs. She confronted him and he admitted taking two lines of cocaine earlier that day.

“She took two bags of white powder off him but over the course of the night he began to ask for the drugs.

“She texted her sister asking for advice on what to do with him and they decided it was best to give them to him in a controlled setting rather than force him to go and score more drugs.

“At 1.30am he began getting aggressive and damaging the house.

“She called the police and they found her visibly distressed.

“Officers were unable to calm him down and restrain him and used pepper spray.

“During the struggle an officer, PC Johnson, was punched several times to the back of the head.

“His girlfriend told police that the defendant had an addiction to crack cocaine and had tried to stop the habit.

“She described him as extremely volatile and angry when he uses the drug.

“That night he started to make threats and damage the house. He picked up a fridge freezer and threw it to the floor, damaging fridge magnets which had sentimental value.”

McLelland defending himself, said: “I apologise for my actions. Some of the evidence is fabricated but I can’t afford a solicitor. I am going to get sacked. My employers don’t know about my drugs habit.”