THREE friends are now paying the price following a drunken night out.

Lisa Burton, Wayne Uttley and Paul Hoggart, all from Darlington, have been fined £775 in total following an incident on February 24.

The three appeared at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to all charges.

Burton, 21, admitted assaulting a police officer.

Her boyfriend, Uttley, 24, with whom she lives with in Fenby Avenue, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault and resisting arrest.

Their friend, Hoggart, 43, of Estoril Road, admitted resisting arrest, obstructing an officer and two charges of assaulting a police officer, which included repeatedly spitting in the face of a policewoman.

The court heard how the three had been drinking in the town centre to celebrate a friend's 21st birthday.

Shortly before midnight, Hoggart was seen arguing with his girlfriend by police officers who were passing by in a patrol car along Commercial Street.

The officers stopped and tried to intervene.

The court was told Hoggart became aggressive towards one of the officers, punching him before holding him in a headlock. Uttley then became involved and assaulted the same officer.

When police back-up arrived and tackled Uttley, Burton attacked one of the other officers by hitting him over the head with her handbag.

The incident was captured on closed-circuit television cameras. The footage was played in court.

Magistrates chairwoman Patricia Wilson said: "We have taken into account your guilty pleas, but behaviour like this is simply unacceptable."

Burton was fined £100 and ordered to pay compensation of £55 and court costs of £55.

Uttley was fined £100 for assault, £50 for resisting arrest and ordered to pay compensation of £55 and court costs of £55.

Hoggart was fined £100 for assault, £50 for resisting arrest and ordered to pay £100 in compensation and £55 court costs.