ASSAULTING two police officers on a drunken night out in Bishop Auckland has cost a teenager more than £600.

Brandon Lee Comby had been drinking in the Castle Bar Hotel to celebrate a friend’s 18th birthday when he got into an argument with the bouncers, magistrates in Newton Aycliffe were told.

Prosecutor Lorraine Cooper said Comby, 18, of Stratton Street in Spennymoor, wanted to take a glass beyond the limits of the outdoor drinking area but door staff told him he had to finish his drink before he could leave.

Comby eventually left the bar at 10pm but returned a short while later.

Door staff said he was too drunk to be allowed back in but Comby replied “I’m not drunk I have been on sniff".

He then argued with staff for about 30 minutes before police were called, the court heard.

Ms Cooper said Comby was civil one minute and aggressive the next, challenging people to fights.

He was taken to the ground but continued to kick out at the officers catching two of them in the head and face.

Comby admitted two charges of assaulting an officer, resisting arrest and using threatening words or behaviour.

Robert Willoughby in mitigation said Comby, who works at an abattoir, does not normally go out drinking and had consumed too much alcohol on this occasion.

He said Comby could not recall much of what happened but accepted he was out of order and apologised.

Magistrates fined him £400 and ordered him to pay £50 compensation to each officer, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.