A MAN arrested for being drunk and disorderly spat in a police officers face as he was being put in the back of a van.

Blackburn magistrates heard the officer said he would rather be punched and suffer a broken nose than be spat at.

Thomas Peter Wilton, 27, of Heap Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in Briercliffe Road and assaulting a police officer. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Catherine Allan, prosecuti9ng, said police were called to the Green Street social club. Staff said Wilton had come into the club drunk and was causing a disturbance.

"He was not happy at being removed from the club and became abusive towards the officers," said Miss Allan. "He claimed he had been assaulted inside the club. He was arrested for being drunk and disorderly and as he was being put in the back of a van he spat forcefully in the face of one of the officers."

Miss Allan said the officer made a statement in which he said being spat at was worse than being punched.

"I would rather receive a broken nose than have human fluid spat into my face," he said.

Richard Prew, defending, said his client was the first to admit that spitting was disgusting.

"He says he was assaulted while he was in the club and then forcibly ejected," said Mr Prew. "He told the police he had been assaulted and when they came out of the club and said they didn't accept his version he turned against them."