A GRIEVING father spat at a police officer and bit him during a drunken rage in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Robert Hudson had attended the inquest into the death of his son on August 27 last year before drinking heavily in Basildon following the “emotionally-challenging day”.

Police attended reports of Hudson being intoxicated before he lashed out at officers - pushing one, biting another on the leg and later spitting at the same officer.

The officer was said to have suffered anxiety following the attack, intensified by being spat at during the pandemic.

Hudson, formerly of The Slades, Basildon but now of Purcell Close, Laindon, admitted three counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

The attack was blamed purely on Hudson’s “intoxicated state” and grief.

At Basildon Crown Court on Friday, Meyrick Williams, prosecuting, said: “The officer deployed CS spray and the matter calmed down eventually.

“He was interviewed. He admitted beating the officer and said it was due to his intoxicated state.

“The only reason is he was in pain and under the influence of alcohol.

“He said he was remorseful and would gladly compensate the officer for the injuries caused to him.”

The officer was said to have suffered anxiety and pain as a result of the attack.

Mitigating, Mike Warren said that this week marked the year anniversary of the death of Hudson’s son and that it had been a difficult time for the whole family.

He said that there had been a disturbance but when police arrived, Hudson “inconceivably” lashed out, with the officer doing “nothing wrong”.

He said: “He pushed one officer and then the other officer suffers more serious injuries.”

The court was told the officer had to have blood tests due to the bite on his leg.

Recorder William Clegg QC said the case was “tragic”.

He said: “It’s tragic to find you here at your age, having not offended for more than ten years before such nasty offences as this.

“I take into account the fact that this was the day of the inquest into your son’s tragic death, that caused you to drink more and this is the result.”

He added: “The police officer suffered considerable anxiety and pain as a result of what you did. He was not aware that you didn’t have coronavrius”

Hudson had not been in trouble with the police for 10 years prior to the incident.

Hudson received four months in prison, suspended for a year, along with 30 days of rehabilitation. He must also pay £500 in compensation to the police officer he bit and spat at.

A GRIEVING father descended into a drunken rage by biting and spitting at a police officer.

Robert Hudson had attended the inquest into the death of his son on August 27 last year before the attack took place.

The hearing had been emotionally challenging for the 58-year-old and his family, and later that day in Basildon he had been drinking a large amount of alcohol.

An incident developed which saw the police attend, which is when Hudson lashed out at the officers, despite them doing nothing wrong.

Initially Hudson pushed one officer, and then in the ensuing struggle, he bit another one on the leg, and later spat at the same officer.

Hudson, formerly of The Slades, Basildon but now of Purcell Close, Laindon, admitted three counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

At Basildon Crown Court on Friday, Meyrick Williams, prosecuting, said: “The officer deployed CS spray and the matter calmed down eventually.

“He was interviewed. He admitted beating the officer and said it was due to his intoxicated state.

“The only reason is he was in pain and under the influence of alcohol.

“He said he was remorseful and would gladly compensate the officer for the injuries caused to him.”

The officer was said to have suffered anxiety and pain as a result of the attack.

Mitigating, Mike Warren said that this week marked the year anniversary of Hudson’s son’s death and the inquest had been held on the day last year.

He said that there had been a disturbance but when police arrived, Hudson “inconceivably” lashed out, with the officer doing “nothing wrong”.

He said: “He pushed one officer and then the other officer suffers more serious injuries.”

The court was told the officer had to have blood tests due to the bite on his leg.

Recorder William Clegg QC said the case was “tragic”.

He said: “It’s tragic to find you here at your age, having not offended for more than ten years before such nasty offences as this.

“I take into account the fact that this was the day of the inquest into your son’s tragic death, that caused you to drink more and this is the result.”

He added: “Taking into account what I have read about you, the fact that you have been out of trouble for ten years and the unfortunate circumstances of the day in question, I am going to suspend the sentence.”

Hudson received four months in prison suspended for a year, along with 30 days of rehabilitation.

He must also pay £500 in compensation to the police officer he bit and spat on during the attack.