A MAN who pushed a police officer who attended a late-night disturbance at a house suffered a broken jaw during his arrest.

Blackburn magistrates heard Gerard Ward became aggressive when police entered the house on Park Lee Road, Blackburn, following complaints from neighbours.

He admitted pushing an officer but claimed it was only because he wanted to get to his wife who had emerged from a room with blood pouring from a head wound.

Ward, 28, of Drum Lane, Kings Norton, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker in the execution of his duty. He was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and £32 victim surcharge.

Andrew Hay, prosecuting, said police attended at 3 am following reports of drunken and rowdy behaviour.

"Some kind of commotion had gone on but none of the people present were saying what it was," said Mr Hay. "The defendant was being aggressive and pushed the officer to try and get past him."

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said there was a disturbance in a different room to where he was.

"As the police arrived he saw his wife emerge from the room with a wound to her head," said Mr Taylor. "She was behind the officer and he pushed his way past to try and get to her."

Mr Taylor said Ward was pepper sprayed and suffered an injury to his jaw during the incident which required hospital treatment.