(Image: Newsquest)
An alcoholic threatened to headbutt police before kicking an officer on the leg when they went to his father's home to arrest him, a court heard.
Benjamin Bradshaw lashed out at police officers after paramedics called for back-up while dealing with an incident at a house in Wingate.
The 30-year-old admitted assaulting a police officer at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court.
Prosecutor George Johnston said: “The defendant struggled as the officers tried to arrest him and threatened to headbutt them.
“While he was restrained, he kicked out and connected with one of the officers on the leg.”
The officer suffered no lasting injury after the incident on June 15.
Bradshaw’s lawyer, Martin Scarborough, said he was sofa-surfing because he had no fixed address but collected mail from his father’s home.
He added: “At the time, he was intoxicated and had been intoxicated for around ten years.
“Over the last two years his drinking has got worse and he was drinking up to two bottles of vodka a day.
“He accepts the emergency services were trying to help him.
“He has not had a drink since August.”
District Judge Steven Hood fined Bradshaw £200 and ordered him to pay £100 compensation to the officer.
He said: “The fact you were intoxicated makes this offence worse.
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“The drink that you had on board was due to an addiction, and that addiction has been longstanding.
“You are now alcohol free and have been for the last two months.
“I’m realistic enough to know that two months is a long time for you to be sober.”