A FORMER soldier struck out and spat at a police officer in a Darlington pub, a court was told.

Police were called to the Brinkburn pub in Lady Kathryn Grove at about 8pm on Sunday, November 23.

They found Glen Batty, of Barron Street, Darlington, in a drunken and aggressive state.

John Garside, prosecuting at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court onThursday (December 11), said: “The defendant was refused service and took exception to this and started to shadow box and shout at staff.”

Batty, 49, refused to calm down when the police arrived and, despite being sprayed with pepper spray, he approached waving his arms, with one blow making contact with an officer.

Batty, who was in the Army for 12 years, also spat at an officer’s leg.

The father-of-six pleaded guilty to using threatening abusive words and behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress and assaulting a police officer.

Jonathan Harley, mitigating, described the incident as out of character and said Batty had contacted police to apologise.

He said Batty had spat to clear his throat of pepper spray and had not intended to hit anyone.

Batty was fined £220 and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge, £85 court costs, £50 compensation and a £20 victim surcharge.