A SKIPTON man guilty of being drunk and disorderly was given a conditional discharge after magistrates heard he had earlier been the victim of an assault.

Paul McGranaghan, 50, was arrested by police, who had gone to the Yorkshire Rose pub on the evening of December 6 following reports of a disturbance, Skipton magistrates heard.

McGranaghan was arrested after being abusive to a police sergeant, was handcuffed and taken to the police station.

But McGranaghan, who accepted he had been drunk, but not disorderly, told the court he had just been assaulted, that his teeth had been knocked out and he had become frustrated with the police officers.

Defending himself, McGranaghan, of Russell Street, said he had been celebrating a friend's birthday and had been on his way home when the assault had taken place.

He added: "My speech was slurred because my top teeth had been knocked out.

"No-one was listening to what I was saying – that is why I was upset. I don't deny I had been drinking, but no-one was accepting what I was saying."

He added he had apologised to the police for his language.

Magistrates found him guilty and gave him a six-month conditional discharge, and ordered him to pay a £15 surcharge costs of £120.