A car thief assaulted a Police officer who tried to handcuff him, a court heard.

Jelani Butterfield, 27, pushed the officer in the chest and ran away — only to hand himself into Police the next day.

Butterfield, of Scaur Lane, Sandys, pleaded guilty at Magistrates’ Court to assaulting a police officer, escaping lawful custody and giving false personal details with intent to pervert the course of justice. He pleaded not guilty to taking a vehicle without consent.

Graveney Bannister, prosecuting, said that at 11 a.m. last Tuesday an officer on patrol in Southampton stopped the defendant near George’s Bay Road after witnessing him commit a traffic offence.

When questioned, Butterfield gave his Christian name as Marco and his date of birth as September 11, 1976.

On checking these details the officer discovered there was a warrant for Marco Butterfield.

However the defendant told him: “I have no warrant.”

The officer, realising he was giving false information, cautioned and tried to handcuff Butterfield. But the defendant resisted.

Mr. Bannister said: “He assaulted the officer, pushing his hands into his chest, and the officer fell backwards.”

Butterfield then ran away along Middle Road, leaving Police to recover the stolen car - a black Hyundai.

The next day however, he visited the Police station in Somerset and gave his real name and address, saying: “I’m sorry”.

When questioned why he had lied, Butterfield said: “I thought I had warrants.”

He admitted the offences in a Police interview on Thursday.

The court heard Butterfield had previous convictions for drugs offences.

Leopold Mills, defending, said: “The assault in terms of its nature was minor. He has expressed remorse for that.

“The defendant accepts that that was poor judgment on his part and it is certainly not something he takes any joy in.”

Butterfield told the court: “I’m sorry. Any man can run away from his problems but it takes a real man to walk back and face those problems.”

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo said: “The assault was slight but I am not sure a real man would behave like that, and certainly you are becoming an older man. You are 27 and you are building up a record.”

He fined Butterfield $1,200, payable by April 30.