A MAN swung a policewoman "like a rag doll" after drinking ten pints of lager, a court was told.
Iain William MacDonald, 23, was arrested for assaulting a police officer after first shouting abuse at officers in the early hours of Saturday, March 15.
He pleaded guilty when he appeared before Hartlepool Magistrates' Court.
Sarah Traynor, pr
osecuting, said the incident followed an argument which police were called to over a taxi fare at Streamline Taxis, in Tower Street.
They spoke to MacDonald, who was with two other men and the driver.
The matter was settled but shortly afterwards in Avenue Road, MacDonald shouted and swore at police.
Mrs Traynor said: "Police warned him about his conduct and he turned round and pushed PC Yasmeen Hussain with the flat of his hand in her chest.
"He grabbed the zip of her jacket, swinging her from side to side as if she were a rag doll."
Sara Clasper, mitigating, said his memory of the incident was marred by the amount of alcohol he had drunk.
He was restrained with an arm lock and put into a police van.
She said: "He was grabbed by the officer and he pushed her away. He realises he shouldn't have done that and has apologised to the officer."
Despite being warned that he faced custody, MacDonald, of Seaton Lane, Hartlepool, was fined £300 and ordered to pay £50 compensation, £43 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
Keith Kitching, chairman of the bench, said: "You were drunk and you were abusive.
"In this court we work to Government guidelines and for assaulting a police officer they point immediately to custody. That's how serious it is.
"We have to protect the police when they are going about their lawful duty."
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