A WARRING couple were carted off in a police van after officers watched their 1am flare-up, a court was told yesterday.

The police saw Pauline Rutter, 28, punch Leslie Hatton, 32, in the face. Attempts to calm her down failed and she was arrested for being drunk and disorderly, said prosecutor Andrea Pitt.

Then Hatton emerged from a house in Ruby Street, Middlesbrough, and began to punch and kick the police van containing her, Teesside magistrates heard.

An officer took hold of his arm and Hatton tried to head butt him, hitting his shoulder instead.

In a struggle, Hatton kicked two officers a number of times before he was also arrested.

The next day, he could not remember the incident, saying he had been drunk. He apologised to the officers, said Miss Pitt.

David Scourfield, defending, said Hatton kicked the van out of frustration at his partner.

Hatton, of West Lane, Middlesbrough, was fined £150 after he pleaded guilty to criminal damage to the police van and to three charges of assaulting police officers on August 28. He was ordered to pay £40 costs.

Rutter had been given a 12-month conditional discharge for being drunk and disorderly, at an earlier hearing.