A MAN who waved a knife around in Southampton city centre and bit a police officer has been spared jail.

Tyler Courtney bared his teeth and then bit down on a police officer’s arm.

However, the 30-year-old has walked free from court after being given an 18-month community order which has now been slammed as a “very lenient” sentence.

Prosecution barrister, Ellie Fargin, told how Courtney had been seen "clearly under the influence of alcohol” at the entrance of the Society of St James, in Southampton Street.

Southampton Crown Court heard how he waved a knife at a group of people and goaded them.

When police arrived and he was put in the back of a van he shouted: “I am going to cut you up."

While in a holding cell he barred his teeth and went to bite a police officer who was wearing armour.

Ms Fargin stressed that “nonetheless he put his mouth onto the arm of that officer”.

He was charged with assaulting a police constable, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and public order.

He pleaded guilty to the offences which happened on September 11 last year.

Defending, Laura Deuxberry, said that her client’s issues with drugs needed to be addressed.

Courtney, previously of Jones Lane, Hythe, but now of no fixed address, wept as he addressed the court and said: “I just can’t take this life anymore. I want to be free of these drugs."

Judge Gary Burrell QC gave him an 18-month community order to include 20 rehabilitation days.

Commenting on the sentence, Chair of Hampshire Police Federation, Zoe Wakefield, said: “This does appear to be very lenient.

"We are seeing too many convictions for assaults on officers not receiving custodial sentences. The message it sends to criminals is that assaulting an officer is not serious or taken seriously by the courts. You can cause serious injury to an officer who is just doing their job, and not go to prison. We need to ensure that body-worn video is played in court on every occasion, judges fully understand the impact of assaults on officers and are encouraged to use their powers to impose appropriate sentencing."