A MAN who spat at a police officer after a "Wild West" style fight broke out in a Crewe pub restaurant was told by a judge he had put the constable in fear of infection.

John Paul Mongan was drunk when he became embroiled in the tussle at the Four Eagles/Hungry Horse on Dunwoody Way. He lashed out and threatened restaurant staff and police were called.

Mongan then spat at PC Paul Clark during the incident on January 29 this year and while it was several weeks before the pandemic hit the UK District Judge Nick Sanders told the defendant that his actions would have caused the officer "significant anxiety".

He told Mongan he was close to sending him to prison, but suspended his 46-week custodial sentence for two years while imposing a 40-week curfew on him as well as a two-year ban from the Four Eagles.

Mogan, 24, of Heathfield Avenue, Crewe pleaded guilty to charges of affray and assault by beating of an emergency worker at South Cheshire Magistrates' Court.

He said he couldn't recall the events because of the level of his intoxication and the court heard he was "self-medicating" after the death of his father and enduring difficult family circumstances.

But the District Judge said: "These were deeply unpleasant incidents, not only the incident in the Four Eagles which someone likened to something out of the Wild West, but spitting at the PC which was revolting and caused him significant anxiety and concern because of the risk of infection."

The court was told that father-of-two Mongan was under stress at home caring for his daughter who has cerebral palsy and needs to use a wheelchair. On the day of the incident he was concerned about her health and fell back on drinking "more than he normally would".

Mongan, it was said, was prepared to undertake any community punishment the court imposed.

The district judge added: "I am sorry to hear about your daughter but you can't hide behind that and you must take responsibility for your own actions and behaviour. There is no doubt that both these offences fall into the custodial bracket."

Mongan will have to pay PC Clark £200 compensation, £150 each to the two restaurant staff who were put in fear of violence and £100 to the Greene King pub chain for damage.

He was also told to undertake 35 days of rehabilitation activities, while the first 20 weeks of his curfew will be week-long from 7pm to 7am and the remainder he will be required to stay indoors between 8pm and 7am on Thursday, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

A victim surcharge of £149 was also imposed on him.