A WANTED man who tried to headbutt a police officer was injured when he was 'punched in the face and smashed through a glass door', a court heard.

Daniel Smith, appearing via videolink, was jailed at Worcester Crown Court on Monday.

The 30-year-old of Raleigh Close, Dines Green, Worcester, had previously been convicted of breaching a restraining order, using threatening, insulting words or behaviour and assaulting a constable in the execution of his duties.

Rachel Pennington, prosecuting, said Smith was made subject to the restraining order after being convicted of battery against his former partner and mother of his four children, Victoria Finch, in March. The order included a condition that Smith was not to enter a particular road in Dines Green, Worcester.

Miss Pennington said Smith was released from prison on licence on June 22 this year. Six days later Miss Finch received a call from him.

She believed Smith had threatened her and arranged for a friend to collect two of their children from the defendant’s mother’s address.

Miss Pennington said the defendant swore and told the friend to ‘get her own kids’ before slamming the door.

Smith later demanded to see Miss Finch’s phone and told her ‘watch me beat your mate up’ and threatened her friend, Miss Bird.

Officers arrived at Smith’s home on July 17 to arrest him.

Miss Pennington said: “Mr Smith became volatile because of how he believed his mother was being treated outside.”

She said he attempted to headbutt an officer but was pushed through a glass panel on the door by the officer, suffering three cuts to his face.

The court was told by Miss Pennington that Smith’s injuries were ‘exacerbated’ by his behaviour in the police escort vehicle.

Smith shouted: “He punched me in the face!” He also interrupted the judge, saying the blow was struck while he was handcuffed.

Smith has 21 convictions for 45 offences including for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, battery, affray and three assaults on a police officer in 2005 and 2007.

Belinda Ariss, defending, said Smith maintained that his ex-partner’s friend, Miss Bird had been 'in drink' when she came to collect his children and also that his former partner had called him, not the other way round.

Miss Ariss told the court Miss Bird was not assaulted and Smith's children had not been present.

She said of Smith’s attempt to assault a police officer: “He did not want to be recaptured. There was a verbal altercation. He would say the police were overly excited to be catching up with him and were kicking the door in. There was a nasty incident between him and the police officer. He did lunge at the police officer. He accepts there was an intention to cause him fear. He was assaulted and punched by the police officer and went through the glass.”

Judge Nicholas Cole described the breach of the restraining order as ‘sustained’ and ‘aggravated by his threats of serious violence against Miss Bird.’

He said of the attempt to attack the officer: “I understand you received some injuries. You only have yourself to blame for that.”

Judge Cole jailed Smith for eight months.