A LOCHORE man has been jailed for punching and kicking a female police officer.

A sheriff told 27-year-old Kyle McCormack that such violence against the force was increasing and would not be tolerated before sending him to prison.

McCormack, of Waverley Place, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on December 18 at Waverley Place he assaulted a female police constable by seizing her neck, repeatedly punching and kicking her and attempting to bite her.

Depute fiscal Lauren Pennycook said officers had been called to the house and were allowed entry.

They found McCormack hiding under a duvet.

He became violent, grabbing the officer by her neck before starting to punch and kick her.

Further police officers were called in to provide support.

McCormack continued to punch and kick her then tried to bite her on the hand. Pepper-spray was used on him, sprayed into his eyes. He was arrested.

Defence solicitor Stephen Morrison said his client was already on a community payback order just recently imposed in April.

Sheriff Wylie Robertson said: “Assaults on police officers seem to be increasingly common. Courts will not tolerate such behaviour.”

He jailed McCormack for 14 months.

In April, McCormack had avoided a jail term for punching his former partner in the street after she said she did not want to rekindle their relationship.