Prepare for jail, judge tells man who attacked police officer on night out

"GET your affairs in order."

That was the warning from a judge to a Totton man who left a police officer with serious injuries after attacking him on a night out.

Robert Mann (26), of Coriander Drive, was told it was highly likely he would be sent to prison by Judge Christopher Parker at Southampton Crown Court.

"The overwhelming likelihood – or I would say the certainty – is you are going to prison, and you will need to prepare yourself for that," said Judge Parker.

The defendant pleaded guilty to a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm on PC Nicholas Tucker (54) outside Yates bar on Above Bar Street in the city on 23rd June.

The court heard the officer sustained "serious" injuries.

Defence barrister Richard Onslow acknowledged it was a "serious" incident and said a custodial outcome was "inevitable".

But he argued pre-sentence reports were needed on Mann, who has no previous convictions on his record.

Judge Parker agreed, and granted Mann bail to appear next before the court on 23rd September.

"Custody is by far and away the inevitable option, so he needs to get his affairs in order," the judge said.