A POLICE officer has told how a confrontation with a teenager was one of the most violent he had experienced.

Christopher Kyle Thompson brandished a piece of wood and a knife at police officers who arrived to arrest him following a complaint of a disturbance, Darlington Magistrates' Court heard yesterday.

The 19-year-old put up so much resistance that he had to be punched to get him to desist, the court heard.

David Maddison, prosecuting, said police officers attended Thompson's parents' house in the early hours after a report of a disturbance.

They arrived to find the defendant leaning out of an upstairs bedroom window, shouting "come and get it, then".

Mr Maddison said: "He was leaning out of the window, shouting something similar to, 'come up, but it will cost you your life'."

When the officers entered the bedroom, Thompson was facing them with a long piece of wood, "holding it in his hands like a spear", said Mr Maddison.

Thompson dropped the wood on the request of officers, but produced a knife and pointed it at one of the officers, the court heard.

Officers used CS spray, which had little effect because the defendant covered his mouth and nose with his jumper, and did not drop the knife.

The court heard that one of the officers used a truncheon and was eventually forced to punch him because he refused to drop the knife.

Mr Maddison said the officer had described the incident as very violent.

He said: "He doesn't recall ever being faced with such violence in his career."

The incident took place in Darlington on May 9 at about 4.30am.

Thompson, of Belford Gardens, Darlington, pleaded guilty to affray.

Graham Hunsley, mitigating, said on the night in question the defendant, who was prone to depression, had been drinking and listening to rap artist Eminem after not hearing from his girlfriend for some time.

Mr Hunsley said Thompson had the knife in his room because he had been contemplating harming himself, but would not have hurt anyone else, and was not holding the knife when officers entered the room.

Mr Hunsley said: "Most of the actual violence appears to have come from the arresting officers."

Thompson was warned he could face jail.

The case was adjourned until June 12 for pre-sentence reports.