A POLICEWOMAN suffered an injured hand during a struggle with a man arrested on Boxing Day.

Burnley Magistrates Court heard how Wasim Mumtaz, 21, had been going to give his girlfriend her Christmas present when he was picked up by police officers in Colne.

Mumtaz, who gave his address as Preston Prison, was jailed for 14 days by a district judge who told him attacks on police officers carrying out their duties were serious offences. The defendant admitted assault by beating.

Carl Gaffney, prosecuting, told the court Mumtaz was arrested because police were aware there were proceedings against him and he was subject to bail conditions.

He was arrested and taken to the police station and struggled while being taken from the police van to the custody suite. There was pushing and shoving between he and the policewoman and she was injured.

The victim received slight bruising to her hand and was given to painkillers. Mr Gaffney said when he was interviewed, the defendant denied any assault took place but said there was a dispute between him and the officer.

John Rusius, defending, said Mumtaz had been in custody since the offence. He accepted he had been reckless.