A CUSTODY officer was punched in the head during a sentencing hearing at Weymouth Magistrates Court in which a man was given a prison sentence.

The defendant in the case is helping police with enquiries following the incident in courtroom 2 yesterday.

Dorset Echo: Three police officer interviewed court staff after the incidentThree police officer interviewed court staff after the incident

Police attended the court, off Westwey Road, after receiving a report of an assault.

Officers said the Serco officer suffered cuts and bruises and had to be treated by an ambulance crew at the scene - however it is understood the officer also went to hospital for a check-up.

READ MORE: Police investigating child porn raided home of suicide pact couple

The incident came as Shane Douglas Breccini, aged 40, of Charles Street, Weymouth, was given an eight-week prison sentence for failing to comply with a previously issued community order.

He was given the custodial sentence after admitting failure to comply with planned telephone appointments on May 11 and June 9.

Following the incident, security tape was placed on the entrance to the dock area, while three police officers took statements from legal and security staff within the court.

READ MORE: Former Dorset slaughterhouse operators fined £5k after multiple food hygiene breaches

Police remained on scene until around 2.30pm.

Breccini, also known as David Christian Breccini, was originally given the community order after admitting a racially aggravated offence on July 11 last year in Trinity Street, Weymouth.

On that date, Breccini admitted intending to cause a person to believe that immediate unlawful violence would be used against him, or to provoke the immediate use of unlawful violence by him or whereby that person was likely to believe that such violence would be used, or it was likely that such violence would be provoked and the offence was racially aggravated.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “We received a report at around 12.15pm on Friday July 2 that a custody officer had been assaulted at Weymouth Magistrates Court.

“It was reported that the victim had been punched to the head and suffered cuts and bruises.

“He was treated by the ambulance service.

“Officers attended and are continuing to carry out enquiries into the incident.

“A 40-year-old Weymouth man is assisting officers with their enquiries.”

Dorset Echo: A Serco security van parked outside Weymouth Magistrates COurtA Serco security van parked outside Weymouth Magistrates COurt

Chris Hodkinson, Serco’s PECS Contract Director said: "One of our officers was assaulted in court in an unprovoked attack and has gone to hospital to be checked.

"We take a great deal of care to look after our staff, they do a great job frequently under difficult circumstances and we take any assault on our employees extremely seriously.

"We are working to support the police in a potential prosecution."