A VIOLENT yob hid in bushes from cops after taking a swing at officers who stopped to speak to him.

Police approached Robert McNeil on Cathcart Road on July 20 last year - but the thug tried to punch one of the officers on the face.

The 39-year-old then took off down the street and hid in bushes while a search was carried out involving other police called in for back up.

McNeil, from Govanhill, was found in some shrubbery but began to lash out.

McNeil took a swing at one cop, tried to spit on two others and then finally landed a headbutt on a male PC, bloodying his face.

At the scene, on Cathcart Road, he kicked and punched towards officers who were forced to place him in fast straps to keep him restrained.

He was then moved to Cathcart Police Officer where, at the charge bar, he suddenly headbutted the police officer on the face.

The officer suffered swelling and bruising to his face and needed treatment at hospital.

McNeil's defence brief told Glasgow Sheriff Court: "He recognised immediately that his behaviour is completely and utterly unacceptable."

The court heard McNeil has recently finished a nine month stretch in prison for a similar offence, being released in April this year.

He went on to marry in May and, his lawyer added: "There has been no further trouble."

The brief said: "The child protection order in respect of his children aged two and three has been removed and the children are back in his care."

Sheriff Gerard Bonnar sentenced McNeil to a Community Payback Order for 18 months with a conduct requirement of attending addiction treatment.

He must also complete 270 hours of unpaid work.