NEWCASTLE striker Nile Ranger will have to pay £1,500 to two policemen he assaulted.

The 21-year-old, of Forest Hall, Newcastle admitted two charges of assault by beating when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday.

But two charges of causing actual bodily harm to two men were dropped when the prosecution offered no evidence.

The court heard that a brawl erupted in Newcastle city centre in August last year while Ranger was on a night out.

Ranger fled and then pushed the two officers trying to arrest him, causing slight injuries.

The court heard that a review of CCTV evidence showed that Ranger acted in self-defence when he hit the two men and that he had suffered racial abuse.

Judge John Evans said: “The picture that the court is presented with is very different to that which was first contemplated.”

Ranger was given a 12- month conditional discharge and told to pay £750 each to the officers.

In a statement after the hearing, Ranger’s solicitor, Geoffrey Forrester, said: “He was subjected to verbal abuse by members of an extremely drunk group of men.

“The verbal abuse turned into racial abuse and he was then physically attacked.

“He struck one blow to each of the two white males who attacked him and he then ran away. He was approached by police officers shortly afterwards.

“He struggled with them when he should not have done. He apologises to the officers.”