A man who headbutted a police officer and shouted abuse at three paramedics responding to an emergency call in Halstead has been jailed.

James Parkes, 51, of Cutting Drive, Halstead, received 23-week sentences for three counts of using threatening behaviour and 12-weeks for assaulting a police officer to run concurrently.

He was also fined £115 at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Monday, December 3.

Two paramedics and a first responder were called to a concern for welfare incident in Cutting Drive on Saturday, July 16.

They started to carry out checks on a woman before Parkes became abusive and threatening to them.

The paramedics were forced to call the police and when an officer arrived and detained Parkes, he was headbutted.

Parkes was taken to custody and later charged.

Chief Inspector Janette Rawlingson, district commander for Braintree and Uttlesford, said: “Parkes was disruptive, abusive and threatening to paramedics who responded to a call for help.

“They feared for their safety when they were doing their job, helping to save lives.

“Our officer came to their calls for help and was attacked, this is totally unacceptable. Fortunately, he wasn’t seriously injured.

“Parkes will now have time to think about his actions locked in prison.”