A policeman was pushed over and hit his head on the road as he was chasing a man from a noisy group in Droitwich, a court was told.

PC Philip Stevens had hospital treatment for concussion and minor injuries to other parts of his body, said prosecutor Tim Sapwell.

He was pushed by 20-year-old Ashley Harris, of Back Lane South, Worcester, who admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

He was given a 12-month sentence in a young offenders institution, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £250 compensation to the officer.

Mr Sapwell told Worcester Crown Court that police had been called after a Droitwich resident spotted a youth walking over the top of his sports car on a Sunday afternoon in August last year.

When PC Stevens tried to arrest the man responsible, he was surrounded by a mob and was unable to use his baton or taser.

Other officers arrived as back-up and he was chasing a man who broke away from the group when Harris knocked him to the ground with a violent push.

The court was told that Harris had a string of convictions for violence.

“You have a record of being a complete nuisance,” said Judge Patrick Thomas QC.

“I’m told you have learned your lesson. If you breach this order, back to custody you will go.”