A DRUNK thug who bit, headbutted and punched police officers and tried to bite a paramedic has been jailed.

Preston Crown Court heard how police were called to a pub in Darwen on May 26 - during the town’s live weekend music festival - to reports of door staff having difficulties ejecting a drunk man they had seen drinking hand sanitiser containing alcohol.

Prosecuting, Peter Barr said police were worried about 33-year-old Wayne Pearson and sought help from nearby paramedics.

Mr Barr said: “The defendant launched into an unprovoked assault. He lashed out and attempted to bite one of the paramedics. An officer intervened and he was punched in the chest.

“The defendant was arrested. He was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital.

“It’s said he had mood swings. He was calm and then extremely aggressive. On several occasions he attempted to headbutt an officer. Another officer intervened and restrained the defendant. The defendant bit a second officer on the back of the hand.”

When Pearson, of Silverdale Close, Blackburn was charged with assaulting two special constables he said: “I am really, really sorry. I am disgusted.”

Pearson pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting an emergency worker acting in the exercise of their duties and breaching a 34-week suspended prison sentence he was given in 2017 for a burglary.

Mr Barr said Pearson burgled the shed of an off-duty police officer. He was chased down by the officer and detained.

Defending, Neil Howard said his client had complied with alcohol treatment and rehabilitation orders, but despite working as a landscaper on a trial basis, had undone all his good work.

Mr Howard said: “Mr Pearson was staying at a hostel. There were individuals at that location who were alcoholics. He attended the festival with one and was drinking cider. He said he had taken the hand sanitiser off this individual and that’s why the police found it in his pocket.”

Jailing Pearson for eight months, Recorder Sarah Johnston said: “No matter what you had been drinking, whether that’s cider or hand sanitiser, assaulting emergency staff who are trying to help you is serious.”