A child was so concerned over the drunken state of the man looking after her that she alerted her mother at work, Perth Sheriff Court heard.
The woman returned home to find the man she had left to care for her three children very drunk and the livingroom floor littered with empty beer cans.
Jailing William Potter for 11 months, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis described his behaviour as “frankly appalling”.
Depute fiscal Rebecca Kynaston said: “The accused was in charge of the children but consumed large quantities of alcohol and one of the kids became concerned and phoned her mother from another room.”
The woman returned to find “the accused drunk in the living-room.
“The floor was covered in empty beer cans and spilt alcohol.”
The court heard that the woman began tidying up the room and Potter then woke up.
“The accused attempted to stand up and started shouting and swearing at the older child,” Ms Kynaston added.
“Police were called and arrived at 10.30pm and found the woman tidying up, with the accused asleep on the sofa.”
Potter woke up and became aggressive, swearing at the officers, she went on.
“Thereafter, he challenged the officers to a fight and attempted to strike them with his fists and legs and said he was going to kill them.”
When the woman tried to put her hand over his mouth to calm him down, he bit her, tearing a nail off in the process.
Defending, solicitor Jamie Morris said his client had problems with alcohol.
Potter, 28, of Firbank Road, Perth, admitted that on August 24 he behaved in a threatening manner by repeatedly shouting and swearing; and that he assaulted a woman by biting her finger.
He also admitted that on the same occasion he assaulted two PCs by lashing out with his arms and legs and attempting to strike and bite them.
Potter further admitted that on February 22 at Primrose Crescent, Perth, he lashed out violently with his arms and legs and struggled with two PCs.
Sentencing Potter, Sheriff Foulis told him: “Your behaviour in August was frankly appalling.
“You appeared in court in 2011 with the circumstances almost exactly the same. You were given a community disposal that time but you have not learnt your lesson.
“This sentence will get it through to you that you can’t drink.”
Sheriff Foulis backdated the sentence to August 24.