Police officers endured months of medical tests after their faces were sprayed with blood and saliva as they tried to arrest a man in Hamilton.
Former soldier Daniel Daly was jailed for 18 months when he admitted culpable and reckless conduct.
The charge stated that he exposed two officers to the risk of infection by shouting repeatedly and causing them to ingest his blood and saliva.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard on Friday that the 38-year-old was arrested for assaulting a man outside a nightclub in Keith Street.
Lauren Cole, prosecuting, said: "Daly himself was covered in blood. He shouted repeatedly at the officers to, 'f*** off', and, as a result, blood and saliva sprayed from his mouth.
"The officers asked him to stop shouting but he continued and this caused both officers to ingest some of his blood through their mouths.
"They had to go to hospital and were advised to start a course of medication.
"They attended hospital again for tests after six, 12 and 24 weeks. Fortunately, the results were all negative."
Daly, who appeared from custody, also admitted punching a man repeatedly during the disturbance on January 29.
Mrs Cole said Daly was chatting to a nightclub doorman when he saw the male, approached him and started to punch him.
She told the court: "A member of the public directed police officers, who were on foot patrol, to what was taking place."
Defence agent Scott Jones said Daly suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder after army service in Northern Ireland and Iraq.
The lawyer stated: "After the initial assault he was attacked by the man, and others.
"He was punched and kicked, and knocked to the ground. They continued to kick him while he was on the ground.
"It was a sustained attack that continued until the police arrived. My client was bleeding profusely.
"There is no question of him spitting at the police officers who were immediately in front of him.
"His shouting was directed not so much at them but at the male who was still in the vicinity."
Jailing Daly, Sheriff Linda Nicolson told him: "I must take account of your serious record, this unpleasant experience for the police officers and the anxiety that must have followed."
The 18-month sentence was backdated to January 30 as Daly has been in custody since his arrest.
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