A HEAVY night of drinking resulted in one man spending a night in custody after he was arrested for headbutting a fellow reveller.

Kieron Johnson attacked the man outside the Union Bar in Consett in plain view of police.

The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to a public order offence when he appeared before County Durham and Darlington Magistrates' Court on Tuesday morning.

John Garside, prosecuting, told the court that trouble flared on Saturday, November 11 when the defendant had been drinking heavily and was acting in an aggressive manner towards others on a night out.

Johnson had been asked to leave the area by police officers as he was clearly intoxicated.

"He refused to leave the area after being told to be officers," Mr Garside said. "A PC witnessed him push one male on the shoulder, acting in an intimidating manner before he was witnessed headbutting another man."

The court heard that Johnson was subsequently arrested and spent the night in police cells.

Johnson, of Mill Street, Delves Lane, Consett, represented himself during the hearing said: "I can't remember anything much about the night apart from obviously waking up in a police cell.

"I believe that I have learned my lesson – I have reduced my alcohol intake and I have limited my alcohol intake so that it definitely won't happen again."

Johnson was fined £280 after pleading guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards another with intent to cause those persons to believe that immediate unlawful violence.