A MAN who punched a female police officer in a booze-fuelled assault and inexplicably called her a 'paedo' has been confined to his home at night.

Scott Owens drunkenly barged his way into an incident where officers were trying to move along another intoxicated man outside a pub — and then thumped the PC.

Owens, 38 — who lost his girlfriend as a result of his 'reprehensible' behaviour — is now on an electronic tagging curfew barring him from weekend nights out.

He'd gone out boozing on top of painkillers for a leg injury when he decided to involve himself in the matter that had nothing whatsoever to do with him.

At a previous calling of the case in December, Greenock Sheriff Court heard how Owens gestured towards the other man in a bid to goad him into a fight on the town's Ann Street.

Prosecutor Claire Rowan said: "A female officer stood between the two. The accused was instructed multiple times to desist but he refused.

"He pushed the officer and punched her once on her chest and called the officer a 'hound' and a 'paedo'."

Fiscal depute David Glancy told a sentencing hearing: "He maintained a soundtrack of abuse, nothing particularly imaginative or remarkable."

Owens' lawyer, Chris McKenna, said: "It is understood that this is a serious matter and that the offence is reprehensible.

"He'd stayed very much out of trouble [since 2005] until this aberration.

"It is clear from the background report that he has expressed appropriate levels of shame and embarrassment."

Mr McKenna added: "He has already suffered through this as his long term partner broke up with him as a result of this matter.

"The author of the background report suggests a deferred sentence for good behaviour."

Sheriff Derek Hamilton said: "My inclination is to restrict his liberty not at HMP Greenock, but at weekends within his house."

Owens, of Clune Brae, Port Glasgow, was also fined £240. He must remain within his home between 6pm and 6am every Saturday and Sunday for six months.