MAGISTRATES have fined a man who assaulted a police officer in Chester Le Street.

County Durham magistrates sitting at Newton Aycliffe on Monday heard that 49-year-old Kevin Reay assaulted the officer just days before Christmas on December 20, 2021.

Read more: Darlington restaurant owner 'gobsmacked' by customer's threat during police stand-off

On the same day he was also charged with using threatening or abusive words/ disorderly behaviour in Durham City.

Reay pleaded guilty to both charges and admitted they put him in breach of a suspended sentence imposed by magistrates in June 28 last year for an offence of battery.

Magistrates decided against triggering the suspended sentence, saying this was justified due to time Reay had already spent on remand.

Instead, they fined him £200 for assaulting the officer, £50 for breaching his suspended sentence plus a £34 victim surcharge.

This means Reay, of The Fells, Plawsworth, Chester le street, must pay a total of £284.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054