AN 18-YEAR-OLD man with an alcohol problem who bit and kicked a policeman walked away with a suspended sentence and an alcohol treatment order.

Christopher Hill, of Bodkin Farm, Ingleberry Road, Loughborough, pleaded guilty to assaulting a policeman and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at Loughborough Magistrates Court on September 26.

The court heard Hill was acting aggressively outside The Gallery pub in Swan Street, Loughborough, at 2am on September 12.

Police asked him to leave the town centre but he ran away. Officers chased him before Hill fell to the floor.

Police tried to detain the defendant but he lashed out and bit one of the officers on the arm.

Prosecutor Claire Palmer said he then tried to bite the officer again before police used captor spray to control him.

Once inside the police van, he continued to lash out this time kicking the same officer in the knee.

Police described his behaviour as erratic with the officer receiving redness and discomfort to his skin.

Richard Bines, defending, said Hill, who has five previous convictions and committed the offence while carrying out a community order for two attempted car thefts, spent around s80 to s90 a week on alcohol and was ashamed of his actions.

He added: He accepts that he has an alcohol problem and he ought to seek help.

He was given a six months sentence, suspended for 12 months, a 12 months supervision order and an alcohol treatment requirement for six months as well as being ordered to pay s75 compensation costs to the police officer.