Guy Dennis, 32, of High Street, was in Hastings town centre at 3am on July 27 arguing with someone when police were called.

Prosecutor Peter Bolwell said: "The defendant was having problems with him, the reasons of which have been lost in obscurity.

"Police wanted to talk to the defendant who then decided he was going to try and get to the other man and bowled over a female police officer.

"She suffered bruising to her back and shoulder."

Officers then arrested Dennis.

He appeared in court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to one charge of assaulting a police officer.

Aiden Harvey, defending, said: "On the night in question he had split up with his girlfriend and drank to excess.

"He did not deliberately knock the officer as he was trying to get to the other man who he says assaulted him.

"The defendant does not normally drink."

Deputy district judge Mark Jabbit gave Dennis a 12-month community order in which he must do 140 hours of unpaid work, pay £250 in compensation and £50 court costs.