A shipyard welder has been ordered to pay compensation to a female police officer who suffered a broken pelvis when he pushed her to the ground as she tried to break up a disturbance.
PC Anna Fielding has suffered four months of pain after she was attacked as she stepped in to a crowd of people near the Job Centre in Barnstaple late at night.
Jonathan Brealy stood in her way to stop her reaching two people who were arguing behind him and when she tried to get past he knocked her to the ground.
The father-of-three, who works at Falmouth Docks, was told he was lucky not to be sent straight to jail for the attack when a judge at Exeter Crown Court ordered him to pay compensation.
Brealy, 42, of Butts Close, Chawleigh, near Chulmleigh, admitted causing actual bodily harm to PC Fielding and common assault to another officer whose fingers were bent back during the struggle to arrest him.
He was jailed for four months, suspended for two years, ordered to do 120 hours unpaid community work and pay £830 in compensation and costs.
Judge Graham Cottle told him:"This was a disgraceful incident. These two officers were going to investigate an incident of public disorder and were assaulted.
"It is the lot of a police officer on duty in our town or city centres at night to come across people who are drunk, argumentative and difficult and they have to deal with it as best they can.
"You were involved in an incident in which you were acting as peacemaker and trying to calm things down but when the officer intervened you turned around and pushed her to the ground with the consequence she suffered the serious injury to her hip.
"It has taken her four or five months to recover and in that time she has been in pain.
"All that saves you from immediate custody is the fact you are of previous good character, a hard working family man, and are extremely sorry for what you did.
"That saves you from an immediate prison sentence, but only just. Anyone who assaults a police officer as they carry out their difficult job should expect custody. You are also able to pay compensation and costs because you are in decent employment."
David Bowen, prosecuting, said PC Fielding and a colleague were on duty near the Job Centre in May when they saw two people arguing and a group gathered around them.
Brealy was trying to calm the argument but blocked PC Fielding's path and pushed her over as she tried to get past.
She suffered a broken pelvis which kept her on crutches and off work for several weeks and caused her prolonged pain.
Mr Bowen said:"She has made a victim impact statement in which she wonders why the defendant felt it necessary to use force on her and says she has been through four months of hell."
Emily Pitts, defending, said Brealy is a father-of-three who works as a welder in Falmouth Docks and is genuinely sorry for the injuries he caused.
She said:"The injury was serious but clearly unintentional. He has shown genuine remorse and distress at the injury he has caused. If he keeps his liberty, he will be keep his job and be able to pay compensation while still supporting his family."
