A Devonshire man was sentenced to a month in prison after he admitted punching a Police officer arresting him over a stolen drink.

Ross Parsons, 38, pleaded guilty to common assault on an officer, as well as theft and violently resisting arrest. Crown counsel Tawana Tannock told Magistrates' Court that at around 1.30 a.m. on Tuesday, Parsons entered the Esso Market on Richmond Road in Hamilton and asked employees if he could have scraps of food.

While he was inside the store, he grabbed a $4 drink and began to drink it. Employees asked him about the drink, but he told them he had paid for it. After the cashier confirmed that he hadn't bought the drink, the staff threatened to call the Police, to which Parsons said: "Call who you want. I'm not afraid of anyone."

Several minutes later, Police officers found Parsons sitting outside the store. They asked Parsons if he could pay for the drink, but he did not respond. The officers told Parsons that he was going to be arrested, at which time he became angry.

When the Police attempted to handcuff him, Parsons started to throw punches, striking one of the officers in the eye twice.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner sentenced Parsons to 30 days' imprisonment for resisting arrest and assaulting an officer, and ten days' imprisonment for stealing the drink.

The sentences are to run concurrently.