of wounding a Police officer with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

But a Supreme Court jury also acquitted Ernest Heys Johnston, of Fenton's Drive, Pembroke, of two charges of assaulting two other Police officers.

Johnston told the court moments after the jury returned the three unanimous verdicts: "I maintain my innocence. That is all I have to say.'' Chief Justice Austin Ward said during sentencing that there was "no reason'' for Johnston to attack Det. Con. Barry Valentine Richards on December 29, 1996. It was "unnecessary'' and "vicious''.

Johnston was arrested after he threw part of a concrete block into a Police car that Det. Con. Richards was sitting in. Richards' head was cut in the attack and required eight sutures to close.

At the time the car was parked on St. Monica's Road, but Johnston maintained that he was never in the area and that he was at a friend's home near Palmetto Road.

Police constables Gary Staines and Beldwin Smith arrested him later that day on Roberts Avenue. He was alleged to have head butted one officer and kicked the other in the shins.

Johnston told the court that one officer elbowed him in the face while the other beat him about the body. He said he was never told why he was arrested.

Mr. Justice Ward ordered Johnston to receive treatment for his drug addiction problem while incarcerated.