AN ISLE of Wight man who pushed a police officer and tossed a bottle at a police van, breaching a suspended sentence order, will go before a judge later this year.

Michael Cooper, of Fort Street, Sandown, appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates on Friday, May 31.

The 54-year-old admitted assault by beating of an emergency worker, and criminal damage to a police van, in Sandown, on May 16.

Prosecutor, Munayah Hassan, said police had been called to a report of damage being caused to a premises in Sandown.

She said the police located two males, and while one was being detained, the other – Cooper – pushed a police officer from behind, picked up a bottle and threw it at a marked police van, damaging it.

Ms Hassan said his last conviction was in May of last year and he was in breach of a suspended sentence.

Oscar Vincent, defending, said Cooper had been drinking with a few friends on the beach earlier in the day.

He said he left a shop, heard a large commotion, and recognised the children of one of his friends were in distress.

Mr Vincent said he saw their father on the floor, barely clothed, surrounded by police officers and crying out in pain.

Cooper intervened, pushing a nearby community support officer, and as he was leaving the scene, he threw a glass bottle behind him which hit a police van and left a scratch.

Mr Vincent said in police interview, Cooper described it as a stupid, reckless act.

Cooper, who had 26 previous convictions for 52 offences, saw his case adjourned to June 28 at the Isle of Wight Crown Court.