A MAN kicked a police officer in the face during a frenzied attempt to escape, a court heard.

The flying boots of Andrew Hunter caught an officer in the face during an attempt to restrain the 18-year-old in the Albion pub, in Yarm Road, Darlington.

Hunter, of Roberts Walk, off Yarm Road, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer, and being drunk and disorderly, at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday.

James Thomas, prosecuting, said officers were arresting Hunter over an unrelated allegation when the scuffle broke out on January 8. After he was handcuffed, Hunter fell to the floor, where he began lashing out.

Mr Thomas said: "Officers tried to restrain him and one of them was struck in the face in the process. The officer responded to that by striking the defendant to his head in order to restrain him and regain his compliance."

Stephen Andrews, mitigating, said his client had never been in trouble with the police before and panicked when confronted by officers.

Officers refused to arrest Hunter on his "own terms", said Mr Andrews, and it was from this disagreement that the fight ensued, adding: "He says he was kicking out, he was trying to get officers off him. It was reckless rather than intentional. He made contact with one officer, but he did not deliberately aim the kick at him. He was thrashing and he recklessly caught the officer in the face with a flying boot."

Hunter was ordered to pay £400 in fines, £100 in compensation, a £15 victim surcharge and £75 costs.