A FORMER soldier who racially abused staff in a west Cumbrian take-away shop and then went on to repeatedly attack police officers has been jailed.

A Carlisle Crown Court judge imposed an 18-month jail sentence on Michael Hill, 33, after hearing how the former soldier, who was left suffering post traumatic stress after his Army service, spat at and kicked the police officers who were sent to deal with his bad behaviour last year.

"There's overwhelming evidence that you will go back to alcohol; you will go back to tablets, and you will go back to causing trouble," Judge Peter Davies told the defendant.

Hill, of High Street, Cleator Moor, pleaded guilty to eight offences.

He admitted a racially-aggravated public order charge on October 22 when he shouted at staff in a Cleator Moor kebab shop; four assaults on emergency workers - all police officers, on November 23; causing £700 worth of criminal damage in Cleator Moor; being drunk and disorderly in Whitehaven on January 21; and possessing the class C drug diazepam.

The criminal damage was done to his flat. Prosecutor Andrew Evans said Hill's landlord found the defendant unconscious on November 23, having taken tablets - something that had become Hill's normal recreation. "He was distressed to find rubbish everywhere, and £700 worth of damage," said Judge Davies, as he passed sentence.

Police were called to the flat and Hill spat at the officers and kicked one with considerable force, said the judge. He kicked another officer who was trying to put him in a police van.

Judge Davies said: "They can't walk away if they are assaulted in the course of their duty. They have to take it but there is no reason why they should take it and I will do what I can to protect them."

The court heard Hill had served in Iraq, with the King's Own Royal Border Regiment, but now has 22 offences on his criminal record, including a number of public order offences. He had suffered PTSD symptoms but his abuse of alcohol and drugs had contributed to his latest offences, said the judge. He described Hill's life as "chaotic".

Defence barrister Brendan Burke said there was no necessity to jail Hill. "He's not a well man," he said. But the judge added: "There are four offences of assault against emergency workers and Parliament says there should be imprisonment because police officers should be protected."