A MAN was charged with assault and criminal damage after barging past a police officer who was trying to arrest him.

Blackburn magistrates heard the officer was knocked into a parked car and caused a dent in the bodywork.

Paul Kenneth McLaughlan, 32, of Newfield Drive, Nelson, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker in the execution of her duty and causing £300 worth of damage to a car belonging to Alexander Sinclair. He was made subject to a community order for nine months with 15 days rehabilitation activity requirement. He was fined £25 and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the car owner.

Nick Cassidy, defending, said his client had previously had a long-standing addiction to alcohol but had started using drugs in 2018.

The court was told that on the day of the incident McLaughlin admitted he had taken heroin and cocaine as well as drinking.