AN unprovoked attack on a detention officer which left him groggy and dazed has landed a man in court.

Magistrates heard that on the night of August 26, Neil David Cole was in custody at Barrow police station, under the supervision of detention officer Mick Dudley.

Prosecutor Mr Peter Kelly said: "Mr Cole was in police custody in respect to a matter over which action is no longer being taken. The complainant was responsible for prisoners in the cells."

Around midnight, Cole was having a conversation with Mr Dudley, the officer on duty that night.

CCTV evidence was seen in court that showed Mr Dudley conversing through the cell door, before violently falling backwards.

Magistrates saw that Cole lashed out without warning, flooring Mr Dudley with a single punch to the face, knocking off his glasses in the process.

Several police officers ran to help their colleague, with Mr Dudley being carried out of the cell block with the help of two police officers.

Mr Kelly told the court that the blow left Mr Dudley feeling "confused and groggy".

After the assault, Mr Dudley was treated by the custody nurse, and after an hour returned back to work in the cells.

After finishing his shift at 7am, Mr Dudley returned home, but was unable to sleep due to the injuries he had sustained.

The court heard that the attack has not just had physical consequences, but mental ones.

Since the attack, the Mr Dudley's wife has suffered from sleepless nights worrying about her husband, and has asked for him not to go back to work, for fear of another assault taking place.

In a victim statement read to the court Mr Dudley said: "I feel disappointed with myself for letting this assault take place."

Mr Andrew Hollins-Gibson, defending, told the court that his client was on a cocktail of medications necessary after an operation which removed part of his brain and skull.

Mr Hollins-Gibson compared the condition of Cole to that of a stroke survivor, as he had to learn to walk and talk again.

At the time of the assault, magistrates heard that police officers were at Cole's home to retrieve medication used to control his behaviour.

Cole pleaded guilty to the offence, and expressed his remorse over the events that took place.

Mr Hollins-Gibson said: "Mr Cole cannot explain why he behaved in this way."

Presiding magistrate Mrs Catherine Alexander said: "The blow was hard enough to cause Mr Dudley to fall to the ground and he was on duty when you did it."

Cole was sentenced to a 90-day community order, during which he will be electronically monitored. He will be restricted by a 90-day curfew that will last between the hours of 6pm and 6am.

Cole was also ordered to pay compensation of £100 and to pay a victim surcharge of £85.