A DRUNK man had to be restrained inside a police car on his way to the station as he hurled abuse at an officer and tried to headbutt him.

Ben Perkins, aged 26, of Trinity Close, Evesham, admitted common assault when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Thursday.

Perkins was arrested on June 29 at 10.30pm in Norton, Evesham, and put in a police car to be taken to the station at Castle Street, Worcester.

Perkins is the brother of Katie James who died the day before the incident on June 28, having given birth to a stillborn son, William James, the day before that.

As previously reported in the Worcester News, the Perkins family blame an arson attack at The Glade in Malvern by Stephen George-Davies on October 13, 2008, for the death of Mrs James who developed significant breathing problems and suffered psychological trauma as a result of the fire.

The fire claimed the life of Richard Perkins, Katie's step-father, and George-Davies was convicted of murder although he died on October 20, 2014, of

natural causes before he could serve his 22 year sentence.

The court was told that these tragic circumstances had been a factor in the common assault. Ben Perkins was among those to escape the fire after Katie James, then 17, raised the alarm.

Kamar Uddin, prosecuting, said PC Atkins was sitting next to Perkins in the back of the police car and the officer had already warned him about his behaviour.

Mr Uddin said: "He became abusive, telling him to f*** off and saying 'I hope your mother dies'."

He also made a crude sexual reference to an officer's wife and the defendant was told to 'calm down'.

Perkins said when his handcuffs were off he would knock PC Atkins out, swore and said: "I'm going to do you."

Mr Uddin said: "He brought his head back and brought it forward rapidly as though to headbutt him.

"PC Atkins took hold of the defendant's head with both hands and pulled it down until the defendant was flat on the floor in the rear of the car. He was restrained for the remainder of the journey to Worcester custody."

Chris Aggrey, defending, said Perkins had entered a timely guilty plea and stressed that no physical contact was made with the officer who did not suffer injury.

He said: "Mr Perkins was going through some tough personal circumstances. He attended his grandmother's funeral and before that his sister passed away.

"He had suffered some tragic family circumstances and, in his own words, his head wasn't in the right place.

"He has a poor recollection of events as he had consumed alcohol. He had not drunk for eight months and it had adversely affected him.

"As a result of the incident he (Perkins) suffered slight injuries to the back of his head having been restrained by the officer.

"He has some slight minor bruising to to left of his ear but he appreciates the officer was only doing his job at the time.

"He doesn't seek to dispute the facts, only to say he's remorseful and ashamed of his actions."

Perkins was handed a 12 month community order, ordered to complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days, fined £50, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £85 and £125 costs.

No award was made for compensation to the officer because he was unhurt.