AN ELECTRICIAN punched a doorman after being thrown out of a nightclub and then headbutted a police officer trying to get him into a police van, Harrogate magistrates were told.

The court heard that Ian Bradley, 22, of Eastbourne Grove, Heworth, York, had been on a night out with a colleague after finishing work for the day at the US spy base at Menwith Hill.

Peter Scott, prosecuting, said Bradley was ejected from Jimmy's, in King's Road, but challenged head doorman Steven Hackers to send out the man who had thrown him out so he could give him "a good hard kicking".

Mr Hackers was then punched on the jaw and as Bradley tried to run off he was grabbed and fell to the floor.

When police arrived Bradley was handcuffed and taken to the van's cell area where he launched himself at the door and headbutted PC Paul Mendham.

Bradley admitted two counts of assault and was ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid community work, pay each of his victims £75 compensation and pay £65 costs.

In mitigation, Geoffrey Boothby said: "It is very much out of character. He is sorry, ashamed and worried about what happened."