A MAN left a police constable with nerve and ligament damage after a drunken fracas.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Graham Borthwick, 35, attacked pizza delivery man Raymond Hale as he staggered home from the Colliery Tavern pub in Boldon last December.

Mr Hale had been chatting to a friend at Hutton Street Industrial Estate when he was approached by drunken Borthwick.

John Evans, prosecuting, said: "The defendant walked up to him, reached inside his jacket pocket and produced a small canister.

"He squirted him in the face. Mr Hale saw a misty spray and felt a burning sensation to his skin and stinging to his eyes."

Bystanders searched the area and Borthwick was cornered, before trying to get at Mr Hale again.

Mr Evans told the court that the police arrived, prompting Borthwick to charge at one of the officers, leaving him with injuries to his hand.

A search of the area failed to recover the canister and it is not known what it contained.

Borthwick's barrister, Gavin Doig, said: "He behaved in a way which was quite out of character this night."

Borthwick, of Charles Street, Boldon, was sentenced to 80 hours community punishment order and ordered to pay £400 costs after he pleaded guilty to to charges of assault.