A PENSIONER has been fined after attacking a police officer and being abusive to hospital staff after sipping on a mystery punch.

Police were called after Richard Perry, 69, fell over a hit his head on his way home from a house party after he began being abusive to paramedics trying to help him.

Perry grabbed a police constable by his stab vest and raised his arms towards his neck.

The officer was unharmed but Perry was taken to Colchester General Hospital for treatment for injuries to his head and ribs.

Once he arrived, he continued to be aggressive and used abusive language to staff and other patients and had to be arrested for being drunk and disorderly.

Perry, of Stanley Road, Clacton, admitted assaulting a police officer and being drunk and disorderly when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court.

He was hit with a fine of £125, and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge for assaulting the officer in St John’s Road, Clacton, on September 2.

He was given no separate penalty for being drunk and disorderly at the hospital.

Lucy Osborn, mitigating for Perry said he was sorry for his actions and did not remember anything after drinking from a punchbowl at the party which turned out to be laced with several strong tipples.

She said: “He is ashamed and embarrassed of his behaviour.

“He only has a limited recollection of the evening and he does not usually drink to excess.

“Usually, the limit to his drinking is a beer in the British Legion after he has walked his dog.

“On this occasion he was at a house warming party with some friends and had one drink which he poured himself but problems arose when he was given drinks by others.

“There was a bowl of punch in the garden and he had a couple of glasses.

“At the time he did not know what was in it, but after speaking to people afterwards it turns out it was lots of spirits masked heavily with a quantity of fruit juice.

“It has been a steep learning curve for him and he is sorry to the ambulance staff and police officers for his behaviour.

“He assures me this is something which will never be repeated.

“His partying days are probably over now.”