AN 18-year-old Gwanda teenager who assaulted four police officers has been sentenced to an effective three months in jail for assault and resisting arrest.

Bernard Dube of Esibomvu village pleaded not guilty but was convicted by Gwanda magistrate Maphios Moyo.

Dube, who had been on the run before his arrest, was sentenced to six months in prison but three were set aside on condition he does not commit a similar offence within three years.

Prosecutor Takunda Mafudze told the court that on the 23rd of November, 2015, ZRP officer Charles Mufanebadza was on patrol at Esibomvu Business Centre when he got information that the accused was at local bottle store.

Mufanebadza summoned one Constable Nyoni to assist him and they approached Dube and informed him he was under arrest for crimes he had previously committed before going into hiding.

"Accused turned violent refusing to be handcuffed and held Constable Mufanebadza by the belt while pushing Constable Nyoni to the ground,” said the prosecutor.

“He then picked a stone and hit Mufanebadza twice on the forehead and several times on the upper back of the left ear.

"Two other police officers Constables Nyoni and Gomwe heard that their colleagues were being overpowered and rushed to assist but were both kicked down by the accused person."

Some villagers later joined in and assisted the police to handcuff Dube.

According to a medical report compiled at Esigodini Hospital, Constable Mufanebadza sustained a swollen and bruised forehead, a deep cut on the upper back of the left ear and a deep bite sore on the left arm.