A NOTORIOUS drunk who hurled a hoover at a police officer before resisting arrest sank 20 litres of cider – prompting a magistrate to declare: “That’s a record!”

Mark Dooley, 52, who has 88 convictions for 168 offences, attacked the officer called out to his address in Bird Lane, Tiptree.

Natalie Anforth, prosecuting at Colchester Magistrates’ Court, said the officer had taken Dooley into another room to speak to him but Dooley picked up a hoover and threw it at him.

Dooley continued to resist arrest in the police car launching verbal tirades and threatening to spit at arresting officers.

While on bail, Dooley was spotted shouting abuse in Crouch Street, Colchester, and was again arrested.

Appearing before magistrates yesterday, Dooley admitted assaulting an emergency worker and using threatening words or behaviour.

The case was heard in his absence after a visibly upset Dooley directed a rant towards the bench when magistrates urged him to be quiet.

Before he was escorted away by court bailiffs, Dooley said: “Jesus was allowed to talk for God and how many people believe in God? Millions.

“I am allowed to talk, I have got my own mouth.”

Zoe Hosking, mitigating, said: “Prison will serve as a detox for him, a period away from alcohol.

“But, as you have heard, he is not willing to change and the likelihood is he will come out and continue to drink to the same level.”

Before continuing to sentence Dooley, chairman of the bench Martin Stuchfield said: “That is a record for me – 20 litres.

“That is a vast amount of alcohol and I am just trying to comprehend that.”

Magistrates sentenced Dooley to nine weeks imprisonment and ordered him to pay £100 in compensation to Special Constable Daniel Williamson.

Dooley said: “In other words, I’m f*****”

From the back of the courtroom, his furious partner added: “He has a drinking problem.

“Do something about that instead of putting him in prison. What will that do?”