A DRINK-all-you can Prosecco night in an upmarket restaurant left three people hurt and a rampaging customer under arrest.

David Kelly, 38, got so blind drunk with his glass being repeatedly topped up that he hit a woman customer on the head after she challenged him about his boorish behaviour.

And when two police officers arrived at the scene in Heswall, he pushed one against a wall, banging her head and ripped the watch off her colleague's wrist.

The health and safety worker was today told by a judge that attacks on police officers are taken so seriously by the courts that a new offence has been created with a maximum term of 12 months.

Recorder Alexandra Simmonds said: "Police officers are emergency workers obliged to put themselves in danger to protect the public and they are entitled to the protection of the court when people like you behave in the way you did.

"They should not be subjected to violence at work and those who commit violence against them can expect significant sentences."

However after hearing of the dad-of-three's genuine remorse, she suspended a four-month jail sentence on him for 12 months and ordered him to carry out 80 hours unpaid work and 25 hours rehabilitation activities.

Kate Gaskell, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that on December 20 last year Claire Chambers and a woman friend went to the Silk Road restaurant in Telegraph Road, Heswall, as did Kelly and his partner.

He became increasingly drunk and made offensive comments including saying "Have you seen that bunch of prostitutes?"

Ms Chambers' friend challenged him and he responded by saying: "I'll f...ing smother you."

When it was pointed out that was "a bit weird" he replied 'I am a bit weird, I'm from Birmingham.'

"They continued to challenge him and he said 'f…off' and hit her (Ms Chambers) to the side of the head with his hand inside his coat which made her jump."

She was left in pain and with a headache but no other physical injuries.

The police were called and constables Joanna Anslow and Vinay Ramnath arrived about 9.30pm and he was arrested for assault.

"He started shouting 'f… off, I'm going to defend myself," said Miss Gaskell.

PC Ramnath went to take hold of his wrists but Kelly grabbed his wrist ripping off his watch, damaging it, and causing soreness to his wrist.

Both officers took hold of him in the doorway of the premises and heavily built Kelly used his weight to push against PC Anslow and she fell backwards against the wall banging her head.

The officer, who suffered a lump to her head and whose sciatica flared up as a result of the incident, pressed the emergency button on her radio for assistance but meanwhile a member of the public intervened to help detain him.

"When interviewed he said he had absolutely no recollection of the incident due to his level of intoxication," said Miss Gaskell.

Kelly, of Davenham Close in Prenton, has previous convictions and was in breach of a conditional discharge for causing grievous bodily harm after a similar drunken incident during which he fractured the victim's jaw.

He pleaded guilty to common assault, two offences of assaulting an emergency worker, criminal damage, obstruction and breaching the conditional discharge.

The judge ordered him to pay £375 prosecution costs, £100 compensation for the watch damage and £100 compensation to each officer.

John Ballam, defending, said that Kelly had gone to the restaurant which was "giving all the Prosecco you can drink, which was an unwise proposal.

"He is normally a Guinness drinker, you can see his size. They were topping up his glass and he was drinking it down as if it was Guinness.

"If he went to the toilet they topped up his glass, whenever he turned his head they topped up his glass.

"He cannot recall anything that happened but he made a full and frank admission.

"He has shown empathy, remorse and apologised for his behaviour which was totally unacceptable."

Kelly, whose partner is expecting his fourth child, had written a letter of apology to the officers and had eight character references.

Originally from Birmingham he worked as a site manager for collapsed construction firm Carillion before moving to Merseyside and now works for Network Rail in health and safety compliance.