A Te Puke man who punched a police detective in the face during a drunken rage has been sentenced to 13 months' jail.

Leon Ratahi, 20, was sentenced in Tauranga District Court today after pleading guilty to assaulting police, threatening to kill and three counts of wilful damage on May 2.

Leon Ratahi in Tauranga District Court today.

He also pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour and three counts of resisting arrest.

The charges stem from an incident in Te Puke in April when Ratahi lost control at his partner's mother's house.

According to the summary of facts, Ratahi was heavily intoxicated when he started yelling at people in the house.

After being asked why he was at the house, he walked to the back of the property and smashed a window in a garage.

He then walked inside the house and started throwing around a wooden table and chairs.

His partner's mother asked him not to, to which he replied 'come here b***h and I will kill you”.

It was at this point police were called.

A detective and constable arrived and tried to calm Ratahi down. Ratahi was on the road and was challenging police to a fight.

As Detective Mark Farrell placed Ratahi under arrest he punched the detective in the face causing a 5mm split to his right eye.

Mark also sustained a black eye and chips to three of his teeth.

It took Mark and the other police officer another minute to place the second cuff on Ratahi.

As he was being taken to the police car, he kicked the back door, denting it.

In court today, defence lawyer Glenn Dixon said his client was drunk at the time of the incident.

'This is not an excuse, it just paints a picture of the scene. He expects to be leaving in the back of a police van at the end of this hearing.

'He is extremely remorseful for what he has done and accepts the only way he can show it is to accept what is coming to him and move on.”

Judge Kevin Glubb said attacks on police will not be tolerated and police will have the full backing of the court.

'You have a number of previous convictions. You need to sort out your anger issues.

'You are young and have your whole life ahead of you. I hope this is a speed bump in your life and you won't be back before the courts again.”