A drunk who downed half a bottle of whisky before getting embroiled in a row with police officers was arrested after he kicked one on the leg.

Shop workers refused to serve Philip Nicholas after his drunken binge and he started to verbally abuse them before leaving empty handed.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard how police were called to the High Street in Stanley on February 29 due to concerns about his behaviour.

Body-worn footage recorded by the police officers showed the 63-year-old becoming increasingly abusive as he waved his walking stick around and threatened to punch one of them.

Liz McGowan, prosecuting, said for some reason the defendant became increasingly abusive and it was clear that he was under the influence of alcohol.

The footage showed Nicholas calling the officers ‘c****’ while demanding that they leave him alone and let him walk home.

Ms McGowan said the defendant kicked out when the officers were trying to get him into the rear of the police vehicle.

She said a search of the man revealed he was also in possession of cannabis.

Nicholas, of Station Road, Stanley, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer and possession of a Class B drug following his arrest on February 29 this year.

Paul Donoghue, mitigating, told the court that his client used the cannabis to self-medicate the pain he suffers from.

He said: “I’m sure that he is embarrassed by what we have just watched.

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“His day had started off quite well, he went around the countryside looking at horses with his friends and had drunk half a bottle of whisky.

“He has gone into the shop and staff, quite rightly, have refused to serve him and have ended up alerting the police about his behaviour.”

District Judge Steven Hood said: “What concerns me is that you threatened to assault one of them and you were heavily intoxicated at the time.”

Nicholas was left £465 out of pocket after he was fined £200 and ordered to pay another £265 in court costs and compensation to the officer.