A SKIPTON man fell on a police officer while being restrained and bit him on his head, heard magistrates.

Shaun Smith, 28, got into an altercation with four officers who had responded to reports of a domestic incident on April 7, the Skipton court heard today (Friday).

Smith was taken to the ground by the officers and in the process fell on PC Nicholas Wehrle, biting his head, said prosecutor, Matthew Rose.

PC Wehrle was left with teeth marks and a three inch long bleeding wound.

Smith, who admitted common assault of an emergency worker acting in his duties, had been on bail at the time awaiting sentencing for other matters at Preston Crown Court, the court was told. There had been no further action on the domestic incident.

In mitigation, Keith Blackwell said it had not been a deliberate assault but something that had happened in 'the spur of the moment'.

Smith's mouth had come into contact with the police officer's head in the process of falling, said Mr Blackwell.

Four officers had gone to the property on April 7 following an emergency call by Smith's partner, said Mr Blackwell.

"The officers took him outside where there was a minor scuffle. Mr Smith was taken to the ground as a way of subduing him and in the course of that, he fell on one of the officers and his mouth hit the officer's head. It was not intended, his mouth hit the officer and caused a laceration," said Mr Blackwell.

Mr Blackwell said Smith was a young man with mental health issues..

"This was a very unfortunate incident but not something that was pre-planned.it happened in the spur of the moment," he said.

Mr Blackwell added that Smith and his partner were reconciled and that Smith had paid for damage caused at the property at the time.

Magistrates adjourned sentencing to Skipton Magistrates Court on August 23, after his sentencing hearing for the other matters at Preston Crown Court on August 13.