A DRUNKEN attack on a former partner led to a six-month jail sentence for Glaswegian Owen Mullen.

The 36-year-old had gone to collect his belongings from his ex-girlfriend's Trowbridge home when the incident took place.

The court was told Mullen threatened and swore at mother-of-two Claire Dobbin in a terrifying attack and assaulted a police officer when he was arrested.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, said Mullen had been in a relationship with Miss Dobbin for about four months after meeting her in Glasgow. He was staying in a bed and breakfast in Trowbridge run by Miss Dobbin's mother.

Mr Meeke said: "Miss Dobbin says that when he drinks too much he can become violent. It deteriorated into an unhappy relationship and she became scared of him."

On June 22, she was at home and had left the door on the latch. Mullen turned up at her house and went upstairs to find her on her own in the bedroom.

Mr Meeke said: "He began threatening her and abusing her in the vilest possible terms. She was absolutely terrified. He was clearly drunk and falling all over the place."

Police arrived soon afterwards and PC Peter Sparrow led the officers into the house.

Mr Meeke said the officers thought he had drugs in his mouth and a struggle ensued.

He said: "He continued to kick out at the police and swear at the police.

"His head caught PC Sparrow to the left hand side of the jaw, pushing the constable's head back, but not causing injury."

Mr Meeke said Mullen could recall none of the previous evening when he was interviewed after sobering up and seemed apologetic.

Mullen, of Wingfield Road, Trowbridge, pleaded guilty to an affray and common assault on PC Sparrow.

Charles Row, defending, said: "He was extremely drunk at the time but it was drunkenness borne out of frustration and extreme disappointment out of the breakdown of the relationship. It was an emotional outburst, not an aggressive one."

Mullen, he said, had three abscesses in his mouth which was why he reacted when police tried to stop him from swallowing.

Jailing him, Recorder George Leggatt, QC said: "The fact that you were drunk at the time is no excuse for what you did."