A COURT has heard how a teenage girl racially abused a police officer after she was arrested.

Darlington Magistrates' Court was told that police were called to an incident in Kitchener Street, Darlington, on March 29.

Officers found the 16-year-old defendant and another girl at the scene.

Ciaran Grogan, prosecuting, said the girls were drunk.

When the officers began to search them for alcohol, the first girl was compliant.

However, the defendant started shouting abuse and swearing to the officers.

She was arrested and put into the police car. On the way to the police station, she began kicking and spitting and also racially abused an Asian officer.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and racial abuse.

Her solicitor, Michael Clarke, recommended that the case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report.

Magistrates adjourned the case until May 3, at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court.