A HOODED thug attacked a police officer who caught him with a vampire mask and a knife on a darkened Derby street.
The items were found in a search of a rucksack being carried by Vasilus Sincak, who said he was on his way to frighten some drug dealers, Derby Crown Court heard.
Residents had seen two men in black hooded tops in Stenson Road at 2.05am on August 6. They suspected a burglary was about to take place and alerted police.
As a police car drove up, the pair began to walk away with their hoods still up, said Sarah Munro, prosecuting. The pair, who both had Eastern European accents, were told they would be searched.
Sincak appeared to be acting strangely and kept moving his hands towards his pockets. He had to be told several times to stand still.
Inside Sincak's rucksack were the vampire mask, a pair of sunglasses and a black kitchen knife with an eight-inch blade, said Miss Munro.
"When the officer reached round to put handcuffs on his wrists, he started to say something, turned and began struggling violently."
The officer was struck on the left shoulder and was pushed before Sincak ran on to Peartree Street.
The policeman managed to trip him up but was then kicked three times to the body. He suffered a broken finger.
Miss Munro told the court: "The officer was extremely concerned because he had a large knife and he didn't know what else was on his person."
Sincak was arrested and there was no evidence to suggest a burglary had been carried out, the court heard.
No details were given of the other man, who was thought to have thrown away a metal bar when police approached.
But Sincak told officers he was seeking drug dealers after asking them to sell him cocaine.
They supplied him with material which was not the drug – and took his £170 mobile phone when he challenged them.
With a friend who had an iron bar, he went to find the dealers.
"He said he was out to frighten the youths to regain his property," added Miss Munro.
A six-month prison sentence was imposed on Sincak, 22, of Campbell Street, Derby. He admitted assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty and having a bladed article in public.
Recorder Marcus Tregilgas-Davey told him: "You were out with a knife and mask. There was no earthly possible legitimate reason for you to be in that position.
"It has been said on many occasions that police officers need to know these courts will protect them. People who use violence and persist in using violence against police officers go to prison."
Justin Wigoder, in mitigation, said Sincak arrived from Lithuania in 2011 and had been working here since then. This was the first time he had got into trouble.
"He told police straightaway the reason why he was out. He panicked when the police appeared.
"He knows now and knows better than he did that one doesn't take the law into one's own hands," said Mr Wigoder.
