A 23 YEAR old Skipton man punched and spat at a police officer who was in the process of arresting a suspected shoplifter, heard magistrates.

Paul Green was on his way home through Skipton Bus Station at around 9.30pm on February 23 when he saw PC Craig Blake arresting a man he suspected of shoplifting, the Skipton court heard on Friday.

PC Blake had chased the man from Tesco, where while buying something to eat he had been alerted by staff, and had chased him down Gas Street and over Gallows footbridge. He had caught up with him in the bus station when Green had intervened, thinking the officer was being 'too robust', the court heard.

In police footage played in court, Green could be seen repeatedly swearing at the officer, lunging at him and punching him in the face. PC Blake, who repeatedly warned Green to keep away, called for assistance and Green was eventually restrained, and put into a police van, after officers used PAVA spray and leg restraints.

In a statement, PC Blake said he had feared for his safety and had suffered bruising to his head and fingers.

Green admitted the wilful obstruction of a police officer, one charge of common assault and one of assault by beating of an emergency worker.

In mitigation, Keith Blackwell said it was a very unfortunate event and that while Green accepted what he had done, it had not been his intention to go out that night and assault a police officer.

"He was not involved, but became involved. It seems he sympathised and thought (the man) was being dealt with too robustly. He became very upset and highly charged emotionally. He has ADHT and had some difficulty in coping with the situation," said Mr Blackwell. 

Probation officer Andrew Watson told the court Green had not worked for two years and relied a lot on his mother. He had been diagnosed with ADHD when he was nine years old.

He had drunk two or three pints before going home on the day in question and had come across two males in a dark corner of the bus station and had not realised one was a police officer. After being sprayed with PAVA spray, he had become disorientated and angry, said Mr Watson.

He accepted however he had done the wrong thing, that the officer had not deserved to be punched or spat at and wished to apologise.

Green, of Pinder House, Keighley Road, was given a 12 month community order with 80 hours unpaid work and up to 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He will also have to pay £100 compensation to the officer.