A MAN has been given a suspended prison sentence after assaulting two police officers and racially abusing one of them.

David Hughes, 24, of Lilburne Crescent, Newton Aycliffe, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting police, resisting arrest, being drunk and disorderly and racial abuse.

Newton Aycliffe magistrates heard that on June 20 Hughes had drunk three litres of vodka, which was mixed with cider and lager.

Police found him walking down the street in Newton Aycliffe with blood pouring from his head.

When officers tried to help him, he became angry and swore at them causing them to handcuff him.

As PCs Mary Atkin and Mohammed Maghal tried to clean his wound, he kicked out at them and racially abused PC Maghal.

He also began banging his head against the wall and the door of the police van. He was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital and his behaviour continued.

Kevin Ross, mitigating, said his client could not recall anything, but had expressed remorse and apologised.

Hughes was given a three-month suspended sentence for two years and a two-year supervision order.

Magistrates' chairwoman Aileen Little said: "You need to understand that your behaviour was totally unacceptable. Public servants who are trying to help you do not deserve to be treated that way."