Daniel Keenan, who had drunk around 10 pints of beer, was arrested when police were called to the melee outside the King Oswy pub, in Hartlepool.

Hartlepool Magistrates' Court was told he dislocated the officer's right shoulder as he tried to break free from his hold to go to his girlfriend who was also struggling with police.

Keenan, who has also been placed under curfew for two months, was ordered to pay the officer £100 compensation.

The court heard PC Steven Teasdale of Hartlepool Police thought he had broken his arm because of the severe pain and had to be sedated at hospital to replace the shoulder in its socket.

Police were already on the scene at around 11.30pm on March 23 dealing with a large fight involving up to 80 people.

Paula Sanderson, prosecuting, said: "He was aggressive and trying to prevent officers from taking hold of him. His girlfriend began to struggle with police and the defendant tried to break free to get to her.

"The defendant pushed violently towards PC Teasdale's arm and he said he immediately felt pain in his right shoulder and his arm instantly locked."

Keenan, 24, of Bruntoft Avenue, Hartlepool, admitted being drunk and disorderly and assaulting the policeman but insisted the dislocation was an accident.

Neil Taylor, mitigating, said Keenan had tried to separate a group of fighting girls, which included his girlfriend, and police were called.
He said: "It is a freak accident that he has dislocated the officer's shoulder, but that makes him guilty of assault. He still doesn't understand properly how it happened."

Magistrates gave Keenan a two-month curfew. He cannot go out between 7pm and 7am and he will be electronically tagged during that period.