A MAN who assaulted two Skipton police constables who had gone to his home to help him, must pay them £150 each in compensation.

Richard Cooper, 52, admitted two assault by beating charges which occurred at his home address on April 24 this year.

Skipton magistrates were told officers had been called to Cooper's home because he said he was going to harm himself with a knife.

On arrival the defendant had a cut on his neck which he refused any treatment for.

The police were told they had to leave or he would stab himself. As one of the officers tried to help him he 'violently lashed out' and pushed her onto a wooden post. She suffered bruising. Cooper tried to bite and spit at the officers, kicking another on the leg.

Cooper, of Rombalds Drive, Skipton, was arrested and taken to Harrogate Police Station.

Mitigating Keith Blackwell said his client was extremely sorry for his actions and realises the police were there to help him.

Magistrates heard he was the subject of an earlier community order issued on January 13 which had been varied because he had not complied with a dependency and recovery service appointment.

As well as the compensation payment, the bench told Cooper they were revoking the former order and replacing it with a 12 month community order with 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a six month rehabilitation order and an alcohol treatment requirement.