A MAN damaged a police car during a struggle with officers, a court heard yesterday.

Scott Gregory, of Pinetree Grove, Middleton St George, kicked the vehicle's wing mirror before police arrested him in January.

South Durham Magistrates' Court heard that Gregory, 21, was at a friend's house when officers arrived to talk to him.

Chris Bunting, for Gregory, said there was a verbal stand-off between his client and the police.

"Officers grabbed hold of him and started marching him over to the police car, but they had given him no reason why he was being detained," said Mr Bunting.

"It was then my client lashed out at the wing mirror because he was aggrieved at how the officers were handling things."

Gregory pleaded guilty to criminal damage and failing to surrender to custody.

He was sentenced to a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 compensation and £34 costs.