A vulnerable man in the grip of a mental health crisis attacked police trying to help him, a court heard.
Mason Rogers lashed out at officers on two occasions last month - injuring one when he emptied needles from a sharps tin in an ambulance.
Rogers, 20, of Abbottsford Road in Cotham, pleaded guilty to assaulting emergency workers, causing criminal damage and possessing a blade.
Judge Euan Ambrose handed him 10 months custody suspended for 18 months.
He told Rogers: "You are a young man who has had a very disturbed history who was in crisis in March and behaved disgracefully towards people who tried to help you.
"There is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in your case."
Rogers was told to abide by a five months tagged curfew in which he must stay indoors from 5pm to 10am.
He was handed up to 20 days of rehabilitation and given a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement.
David Maunder, prosecuting at Bristol Crown Court via video link, said on March 12 Rogers assaulted police who came to his aid when he was distressed near Clifton Suspension Bridge.
On March 20, he was found in a street with a head injury and again lashed out at officers.
Rogers admitted a reckless assault on an officer when he injured him with a needle as he emptied a sharps tin, the court heard.
Virginia Cornwall, defending, said: "He doesn't recognise himself as the person who behaved in this way.
"He is deeply embarrassed about his behaviour.
"He doesn't excuse it.
"He will understand if the court imposes a custodial sentence."
Miss Cornwall said her client had got clean from drugs in custody and was taking "one baby step at a time" on the road to recovery.
