A DARLINGTON man spat at an environmental officer when he became upset about dog mess in the town, a court heard.

Daniel Wright, 22, berated the Darlington Borough Council streetscene supervisor on August 1, before spitting at his shirt.

Wright, of Askrigg Street, Darlington, pleaded guilty to common assault at Darlington Magistrates’ Court, and admitted a further charge of criminal damage after smashing furniture at Darlington YMCA, in Middleton Street, on July 16.

Blair Martin, prosecuting, said: “He chastised the man about dog mess in the street and when the streetscene worker responded, Wright spat at him.

“The man was left shocked and did not have time to protect himself.

“The damage in the YMCA was in his bedroom, and it cost £350 to fix a broken wardrobe and table, and re-decorate walls.”

Alan Meehan, mitigating for Wright on the YMCA criminal damage, said: “This is an angry young man who is still extremely upset about the loss of his mother.

“He still has to come to terms with that and he sometimes has an inability to stay calm.”

Christopher Bunting, mitigating for the assault charge, said he had been “in a bad mood” and lost his temper during a verbal confrontation.

Magistrates handed Wright a six-month supervision order and 60 hours unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £350 compensation for the YMCA damage and £100 compensation to the streetscene worker.