A MAN who cut himself while damaging a pub, attacked a police officer who took him to hospital, a court heard yesterday.

Lee Cervi's offences led to a nine-month ban from all pubs in Knaresborough when he appeared before Harrogate magistrates.

Cervi, 21, pleaded guilty to damage, threatening behaviour and assault. Caroline Midgley, prosecuting, said he had been drinking with another man in the Harts Horn, in Knaresborough, and argued with a woman.

Manager Aston Davey asked all three to leave, and a pint glass was thrown, before Cervi and the other man began kicking doors.

Glass was punched out of a window, showering drinkers with fragments, before a second window was smashed.

Police arrived and followed a trail of blood towards the bus station, where Cervi, of Meadow Road, Knaresborough, was found. He had cuts to his right forearm and became violent.

Mrs Midgley said he was taken to Harrogate District Hospital, where he attacked PC Andrew Rawlings.

Geoffrey Rogers, in mitigation, said drink had been at the root of Cervi's behaviour, and that it had played a part in his previous offending.

Cervi was ordered to carry out 150 hours of community work and observe a 9pm to 7am curfew for three months.

He was also banned from Knaresborough's pubs for nine months and told to pay £159 towards a £1,000 damage bill, £50 to PC Rawlings and £100 costs