A MAN kicked a police officer in the face after becoming frustrated at not being listened to, a court heard yesterday (Thursday, December 5).

Police were called to a large scale disturbance on Northumberland Street, in Darlington, in the early hours of Saturday April 27.

When they attended, they found 33-year-old Christopher Thompson at the scene, with a group of others including his sister, who was wearing just one shoe.

Thompson, who appeared to be drunk, began swearing and verbally abused officers after being warned to stop.

Prosecutor Blair Martin told Darlington Magistrates Court that he was then arrested before being struck and restrained by a police officer when he would not comply.

After being handcuffed and placed in the back of a police van, Thompson kicked an officer in the face, causing injury to his jaw.

Laura Moorby, mitigating, said the incident arose after Thompson’s sister was attacked in a bar.

She said: “They had tried to move away but the perpetrators had followed them.

“He tried to speak to officers about what had happened but did not feel his complaint was taken seriously and felt very frustrated.

“This gives him no right to behave how he did but it was as a result of particular circumstances which he is unlikely to find himself in again.”

Thompson, of Dunmoor Grove, Ingleby Barwick, was found guilty at an earlier trial of being drunk and disorderly in a public place and assaulting a constable in the execution of his duty.

He was ordered to do 60 hours unpaid work and pay costs of £680 and compensation of £50.