A FORMER paratrooper with a black belt in kung fu was so violent when he drunkenly attacked two police officers that had to be controlled with two pairs of handcuffs and leg restraints, a court was told yesterday.

Edward Patrick, 28, of Aust Crescent, Bulwark, near Chepstow, broke the nose of one of the policemen as they struggled to overcome his martial arts attack on them at a Gloucester night club, a judge heard.

The incident began when police were called to the Atik club in Eastgate Street, Gloucester, because of Patrick's intoxicated behaviour, Gloucester Crown Court was told.

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The court heard that when two officers arrived they saw Patrick punch a man in the chest and they intervened, only to receive punches themselves with one strike breaking the nose of one officer.

Patrick, currently working as a site manager in the construction industry, admitted assaulting PC Jason Salter and Sergeant Robert Harrison by beating on Sunday, September 29, this year.

The prosecutor, Grace Flynn, said: “The officers attempted to get Patrick under control but he was struggling and required two sets of handcuffs on his wrists and a set of leg restraints to subdue him.

“Patrick was acting in a very aggressive way using his martial arts skills and needed to be removed for his own and others safety.”

Defending Karl Williams said: “Patrick accepts his behaviour was out of order but feels he is suffering from combat stress and is currently seeking help from the Royal British Legion and other organisations for his condition.

“Patrick realises that he deserves everything he gets in the way of a sentence as he knows he was in the wrong.

“He has no excuses but has previously shown that he can pay the community back by means of an order.”

The court was told that Patrick had received a suspended six month prison sentence in September 2018.

Judge Recorder James Waddington QC said to Patrick: “You committed these offences in breach of a suspended sentence.

“Therefore I have to sentence you for the original offence and the assaults on the two police officers.

“You were extremely drunk and the two officers saw you punch a man in the chest before you turned your attention onto them.

“You were acting in a very aggressive manner and used your martial arts skills to fend the police off.

“They tried to restrain you and you decided to assault them. They had to use two sets of handcuffs and leg restraints to subdue you.

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“But when sober you were very remorseful about the assaults, of which you have very little personal recall.”

The judge sentenced Patrick to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months, fined him £200 and made him subject to a victim surcharge; ordered him to do 150 hours of unpaid work and attend 30 programme days focussing on alcohol addiction.

Judge Waddington said: “I very much hope that you take this opportunity to put this past period of your life of drinking heavily and acting violently behind you.”