A man must pay £100 compensation to a police officer after twice spitting on his legs.
The incident happened after Nicholas Smith claimed that he was taunted by armed men in the city on Friday night, a court heard.
Smith, 47, went up to patrolling officers, cursed them and said: "Sort this out," Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard.
The officers pushed his face to near the floor after he told them: "I will spit in your face," said Sanjay Jerath, prosecuting.
"He deliberately turned his face towards the officer and spat at the officer's legs. He then did it a second time.
"He was not interviewed because he was too volatile and violent," added Mr Jerath.
A six-week prison sentence, suspended for a year, was imposed on Smith of Oak View, Radford.
He admitted assaulting a police officer in the course of duty and breach of public order.
Rob Keeble, mitigating, told the court: "It was an unfortunate set of circumstances because he has been out of trouble for a number of years.
"He was being followed and taunted by a number of individuals who were carrying weapons. He asked the officers about it.
"He accepts he over-reacted and vented his frustration and got even more upset when the officers arrested him.
"He does feel fragile at times."
District Judge Leo Pyle ordered Smith to spend 15 days with probation officers on rehabilitation.
"Quite deliberately by two actions, you were spitting at a police officer when he was simply doing his job," the judge told Smith.
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