
A Warrnambool prosecutor has likened an incident where a man pushed a police officer into a brick wall to a "one-punch" attack that could have had deadly consequences.
Warrnambool's Joshua Vasquez, 27, resisted arrest after being caught chroming and graffiting a building in Warrnambool's CBD on October 21.
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He pushed two police officers and attempted to run away but was grabbed by the shirt by a female officer.
He then pushed the victim to the chest, causing her to stumble back and hit her head on a concrete wall.
Vasquez pleaded guilty to the assault, as well as other offences, in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Police prosecutor Carolyn Howe urged the magistrate to jail the man, stating that the push that caused the female officer to hit her head on a brick call was very similar to a one-punch attack and could have had serious consequences.
At the time of the offending, Vasquez was heavily intoxicated and also on a community correction order after pleading guilty in July to breaking into a house, cooking himself a feast and defecating on a person's front door step.
The court heard the man was eventually arrested at the CBD location in October and conveyed to Warrnambool police station where he was lodged in the cells for being drunk.
Then on October 24, he attended a residential property in Warrnambool's Verdon Street where he had an argument with two occupants before stealing $70 cash.
He used the money to buy a slab of beer and was later arrested at a nearby property.
Solicitor Shilpa Sringar said the man spent 51 days in custody on remand - an experience she said Vasquez found difficult although it had helped him maintain his sobriety.
Magistrate Franz Holzer said he had sentenced Vasquez to the correction order in July.
"Alcohol was a problem then and your lack of control was also a concern," he said.
"Now we have more of the same offences in October, still with alcohol at the core of the significant offending."
He said the assault on the police officer was unacceptable and placed her at risk.
Vasquez was jailed for the 51 days he served in custody on remand and released from custody.
He must continue the community correction orders, with the addition of mandatory mental health treatment.
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