AN EAST Sheen man was sentenced to an 18 month community rehabilitation order by Richmond Magistrates after pleading guilty to using threatening behaviour towards a policeman.

Sean Josephs, 34, of St Leonards Road committed the offence on July 25th 2001 during a dispute with one of his neighbours.

The prosecutor Susan Healey said: "Police were called to a flat to deal with loud noise and a neighbour dispute. Very loud music was heard from the top floor flat. A PC was challenged by Josephs who was in an agitated state. Josephs then threatened the PC. The officer called for another unit to come out. The officer tried to keep Josephs back but he kept pushing the PC back.

"The PC then told Josephs he was under arrest but Josephs tried to grab the officer's arm. The PC then struck Josephs on the left thigh. It was then that the other unit arrived and Josephs was taken to the police station."

The defence solicitor, Ms Bostock, said: "I would invite the court to read the forensic psychiatric report and impose a community rehabilitation order. Mr Josephs is aware it was a serious offence.

My client is known to the community mental health team and he has a clinical psychologist who he sees regularly. He is also taking medicine. He has a personality disorder.

"On the day in question there was a dispute with his neighbour who had turned his electricity off. Mr Josephs accepts he approached the officer. It wasn't premeditated. The officer was able to get over the incident due to his training.

"My client is sorry and regrets the matter. He left school at 16 with no qualifications and has been unemployed since 1991. He gets incapacity benefit."