A MAN who punched, kicked and spat at officers after they tried to break up a fight walked free from court.

Matthew Finch, 25, was arrested after police were called to a domestic incident at a house in Point Road, Canvey, on Wednesday.

Mr Finch had allegedly hit his 63-year-old dad before officers arrived.

When police turned up to safeguard the family, the 25-year-old - who lives in the house - lashed out.

Det Supt Kevin Baldwin, south local policing area superintendent, said that one officer was grabbed around the throat and punched while others were kicked and spat at.

Mr Finch was charged with five counts of assaulting a police officer in the execution of their duty. He admitted the charges at Southend Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Because he had a clean criminal record and showed remorse, magistrates handed him a conditional discharge for 24 months and ordered him to pay £100 compensation. It means no further action will be taken unless he commits another offence in the next two years.

Mr Baldwin said that he will push for tougher sentences for defendants who are found guilty of assaulting police officers.

He said: “We will have to respect the court’s decision on the sentencing, but I want to be clear that assaulting police officers doing their job is not acceptable and anyone found guilty should receive an appropriate sentence that reflects the gravity of the crime.

“These officers were doing their job after being called to the premises to protect people. We will continue to push for tough sentences for these types of offences and our officers will continue to do what they do best, protect people”

PC Alfie McPhilimey, from the Castle Point and Rochford local policing team, received minor injuries during the incident.

He Tweeted: “We arrested a violent male who decided to assault me and six other colleagues.

“Thankfully only minor injuries. Officers are ok.”

PC Ian Risden, from the community policing team, added: “Never nice to hear and I wish the officers well. Sadly officers getting assaulted is a daily occurrence, but seven at a time is rare.”