A Darlington youth was abusive to paramedics as they tried to treat his unconscious girlfriend, a court was told.

The 16-year-old had been drinking heavily and was shouting insults at the ambulance staff.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday, charged with using threatening, abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

The charge breached a 12-month conditional discharge he was given in January for possessing cannabis, which itself breached a six-month conditional discharge imposed in December for theft.

The court was told the youth had been on a night out with his girlfriend, and had had a few drinks, when the incident occurred last Saturday.

His girlfriend had fallen earlier in the evening, banging her head on the ground, but said she was okay.

Later, however, she fell to the ground again and was knocked unconscious.

Zoe Passfield, mitigating, said: "He was extremely concerned for her and was trying to bring her round by slapping her face.

"It was at this point a group of males approached them and started assaulting my client. It is possible they may have thought he had been assaulting his girlfriend."

The group left and the youth called an ambulance.

However, the court heard when it arrived, he became aggressive towards the paramedics.

Ms Passfield said: "My client had had a drink and was still concerned for his girlfriend. He just wanted to be in the ambulance with her, but he wasn't being allowed."

Police, who had also attended the scene, arrested him for abusive behaviour.

The youth was given a three-month action plan, which will address issues such as victim awareness and substance misuse.

His conditional discharge will run as before.