Stevens (19), of The Apex, Oundle Road, Peterborough, spat on one policeman and called another a racially offensive name after going on the bender to celebrate a 21st birthday.

At Peterborough Magistrates' Court yesterday, he avoided jail for the spitting incident after District Judge Ken Sheraton heard he had been making progress while under a community order for another similar offence.

Prosecuting, Anthea Harris said at 7.10pm on March 12, an officer was waved down by a member of the public while travelling from London Road into Oundle Road.

He complained Stevens, who was nearby, was a noisy neighbour.

Stevens shouted and swore at the police officer, and began spitting on the floor, which hit the officer's trouser leg.

He was arrested and taken to Thorpe Wood police station, where he called another officer the offensive name.

Stevens appeared for sentence yesterday after pleading guilty earlier to assaulting an officer, being drunk and disorderly, using threatening words or behaviour, and a racially aggravated count of using threatening words or behaviour.

Defending, Angela Holland said Stevens was "pretty sozzled" at the time and was very apologetic once he came to his senses.

District Judge Sheraton gave Stevens a six-week jail term, suspended for 18 months, with an 18 months' supervision requirement. He also ordered Stevens to do 100 hours unpaid work, pay £75 costs, and £100 compensation to the assaulted officer.