A GRIEVING thug with one leg punched a female police officer in the face during a drunken rage on the anniversary of his wife’s death.

Daniel Kelly drank heavily before going out in his wheelchair in Shoebury, but was so intoxicated he fell and injured himself.

The 61-year-old, who has 24 convictions for 76 offences, had previously lost one of his legs in a bus accident, and was mourning the loss of his wife on June 8 - five years since she passed away.

He was jailed at Basildon Crown Court on Friday.

Kelly, of York Road, Southend, had fallen off his wheelchair and cut his head, and concerned members of the public phoned an ambulance for him.

Despite this, Kelly was aggressive, saying he wanted “to win a race” and rode off in his wheelchair.

Then, about 45 minutes later just after 4pm, police received a call from an ambulance crew in Admirals Walk saying they were concerned about Kelly’s aggressive behaviour to them.

Police arrived and tried to calm Kelly, who was shouting and swearing at the crews, determined to fight them.

Eventually he swung his fist at the only female officer present, but was subdued. However, when officers relaxed him he swung out again and punched the officer on the cheek, which left bruising and redness.

Allan Compton, prosecuting, said: “In his police interview he stated ‘I’m sorry for what I did, can you tell her I’m sorry’.”

Mitigating, Lucy Sweetland said that Kelly was “disgusted” with himself and that he had lost several relatives in recent years.

The court also heard Kelly had been given a suspended sentence in October for slashing a man’s face.

Judge Samantha Cohen told Kelly: “It was unprovoked and gratuitous.

“It was in my view a deliberate and calculated act.”

Kelly was jailed for two years.