A MIDDLE-aged man who hit a police officer with a hammer in a street fracas has been jailed for four months.

Burnley Magistrates heard how the officer had to have hospital treatment to his right hand which was very painful and swollen after he was attacked by Peter Noone, 47.

The court heard the officer believed if he had not put his arm up to protect himself, he would have suffered a serious head injury.

Noone, whose solicitor said he had drunk his way through life, was told by the bench two people had been injured and he had been unable to respond to community sentences because of his alcohol addiction.

Noone, of Leyland Road, Burnley, admitted threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and assaulting a police officer.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said police were called to the home of a friend of the defendant's after he threatened to torch the house. She had picked up a hammer to frighten him from the property, there was a row, Noone got hold of the weapon and hit a man trying to intervene on the forehead.

When officers arrive, the man was bleeding quite heavily and the defendant, who was also injured, swore at an officer and pushed him in the chest. The officer took hold of Noone's jacket and tried to push him out of the way but the defendant was shouting he would have him. He then raised the hammer and brought it down towards the officer's head.

Mr Snape said a short struggle followed. The officer managed to seize the hammer, threw it out of the defendant's reach and told him he was being arrested. Noone replied: "I'm sorry."

Richard Taylor, defendant, said Noone was resigned to the fact he was going to custody. He seemed to drink through life. He was on benefits, lived where he could and when he got any money spent it on drink.

He did not have responsibilities, but he did not get into trouble with the police as much as could be anticipated.

Noone had not gone armed with the weapon. He paid somebody to feed him, arrived late for his meal and in drink, and when he was told he could not have the meal he asked for some house keys so he could sleep off the drink.

Mr Taylor said the defendant was horrified that he injured the officer and did not normally show signs of violence.

The solicitor went on: "The fact of a custodial sentence doesn't frighten the defendant, but he will be able to dry out."