An off-duty cabby drove while drunk and collided with a motorcycle. He then kicked the police corporal investigating the accident.

Chu Yiek Leong, 50, was on Monday sentenced to a month in jail and a $1,000 fine. He was also disqualified from driving for two years.

He had pleaded guilty to drink-driving, inconsiderate driving and assaulting the police officer.

A district court heard that Chu had been drinking beer with friends in a Geylang coffee shop. At about 1.40am on Sept 21, 2011, he headed home. While driving his personal car along Upper Paya Lebar Road, he rammed the back of the motorcycle of Mr Paneer Selvam Prabhakar.

The injuries sustained by the 42-year-old rider included a fractured spine and broken ribs and he was warded in Changi General Hospital for nine days.

Corporal Jeremy Seet Ban Kok, 24, was one of the two police officers dispatched to the accident scene. Chu reeked of alcohol and walking unsteadily. He failed the breathalyser test and was placed under arrest.

When he strayed onto the road, Corporal Seet pulled him back to the side. The cabby lost his balance and fell. Accusing the cop of assaulting him, he kicked the officer's legs.

Chu's blood alcohol level was measured by the Health Sciences Authority to be 144mg - way above the legal limit of 80mg.

Asking the court not to impose "a crushing sentence", defence counsel Ravinderpal Singh said that Chu will now be unable to earn his livelihood.