A night out for a father-of-three ended in a police cell, after he drunkenly grappled with two police officers on a Carlisle street.

Daniel Britton, 33, drew the attention of the officers when he was heard saying he was about to snap the neck of a man he was seen talking to in Junction Street, Carlisle's Rickergate Magistrates' Court heard.

Britton, of Longsowerby Road, Carlisle, admitted assaulting a police officer, being drunk and disorderly in public, causing criminal damage to the police officer's spectacles, and obstructing an officer.

Pam Ward, prosecuting, said the officers described the defendant as "intoxicated and argumentative”.

The prosecutor described how Britton first pushed the woman officer away then began swinging three or four punches, with one connecting with the side of her head.

The second officer used parva spray to subdue the defendant, who knocked off that officer's glasses, breaking the hinge.

The defendant later told police he had been for a night out with friends in the nearby Milbourne Arms pub. He accepted he was very drunk by the time he left, but insisted he was not normally a violent person. “He was disgusted with himself for hitting a police officer,” said Mrs Ward.

“He accepted that his behaviour was unacceptable.”

Sara Budniak, for Britton, said: “He's deeply sorry for his behaviour, and deeply embarrassed to be before the court.”

She said the defendant's mother was in court to support him but not his wife as Britton was still in “the doghouse” over what happened. A father of three children, his behaviour on the night of August 27 had been

completely out of character.

“He wants to apologise to the officers,” said Miss Budniak.

“He's a family man, who works to support his family, and wants to set a good example. He knows that his behaviour was appalling but he can't remember what happened. He is certainly not usually an aggressive person.”

Magistrates imposed a community order, with an electronically monitored curfew, from 8pm to 6am, which will run for 14 weeks, expiring on Boxing Day.

Britton must also pay £85 costs, an £85 victim surcharge, and £100 compensation to the officer he assaulted.