A THIEF who kicked a police officer in the stomach and face while he was being arrested has been jailed for six months.

Martin Morgan, 33, of Pakenham Road in Park South, had been arrested by police last Wednesday after House of Fraser staff spotted him stealing bottles of perfume.

While Morgan was being detained and arrested on suspicion of theft by officers, he kicked a female police officer in the stomach.

He then kicked her in the face as she arrested him for assaulting a police officer.

Morgan appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court on Friday, where he pleaded guilty to the assault, the House of Fraser theft, and to stealing alcohol on two occasions from the Brunel Plaza Sainsbury's.

He was jailed for 17 weeks for the assault and a further eight weeks for the three thefts.

He was also ordered to pay £200 compensation to the police officer he hit.

Sgt Amy Hardman, from Swindon South Community Policing Team, welcomed the sentence and said violence against police officers and staff would not be tolerated.

She said: "Morgan has an extensive history of theft offences and shows very little sign of changing his behaviour.

"His offending has a big impact on the local shops within the town, who are already under pressure due to the popularity of out of town retail parks and online shopping.

"In relation to the assault, the physical injuries to the officer involved are luckily not something that will be of any lasting nature.

"However the emotional and psychological impact is not something that is repaired quite so quickly or easily and the officer concerned will have the full support of our organisation during this time."

During the court hearing, a statement from Chief Constable Kier Pritchard was submitted to highlight the impact on assaults on police officers.

It said: "My staff work tirelessly to protect the public from situations which may involve threat, risk or harm and will often place themselves into harm's way in order to undertake this duty.

"Despite this and the protection they are afforded through their personal issue appointments, it is my belief that being physically or verbally assaulted should never be tolerated or considered to be acceptable as part of their public duty.

"My staff have a right to go about their daily duty without the fear of being assaulted either physically or verbally, which is motivated by hostility, violence or physical assault of the person, which is a criminal offence."