A man turned violent when police officers turned up at a Lanarkshire property on Boxing Day during a feisty festive fracas.
The cops were called to the Wishaw address in time to find householder John McCann attacking another man.
McCann then vented his anger on the officers, swinging punches at one and spitting at the other.
The aggressive 36-year-old appeared from custody at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday.
He admitted assaulting a man in Stewarton Street during the early hours of Boxing Day last year.
McCann also admitted assaulting a police officer and culpably and recklessly spitting towards another.
Lauren Cole, prosecuting, told the court: "Police received an anonymous call about 4am and when they attended officers heard a man groaning inside the house."
They entered and saw McCann on top of another man, and the prosecutor added: "He had him in a headlock and was punching him repeatedly on the head.
"McCann then stood up and swung punches at one of the officers, making contact with his face a number of times and also punching him on the body.
"The police officers used their Pava spray on his eyes and McCann was taken to the ground.
"He then spat at the second officer but failed to make contact."
Ms Cole said that the victim "suffered bruising and swelling to his cheek. He was hostile towards the police and refused to provide a statement."
Defence agent Mark Lutton said McCann had given his male victim "a roof over his head" during the Christmas period, but things had turned sour.
Mr Lutton said: "My client asked him to leave but he refused and the commotion that followed is what led to the police being contacted.
"Fortunately, the injury the victim sustained was of a limited nature.
"Mr McCann knows his behaviour towards the police was unacceptable."
Sheriff Linda Nicolson noted McCann has a "very significant" criminal record and said there was no alternative to a prison sentence.
She jailed him for 15 months, but this was backdated as he had been in custody since his arrest.
It meant, given early release rules, he was likely to be freed immediately.
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