A DEPRESSED husband spat at police, was abusive and struggled as they tried to handcuff him.

Burnley Magistrates heard how Asda worker Sean Weekes, 30, became aggressive, and had tried to get away as a man was holding him back.

Weekes, of Penistone Street, Burnley, admitted resisting a police constable and breaching the peace and was fined £100, with £55 costs and bound over in the sum of £100, for 12 months.

An allegation of affray was withdrawn.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said police were called to a house at about 11.30pm and were told a man had threatened the occupant with a knife

There was no evidence of a knife being used. The officers could hear screaming and shouting as they arrived, went into the house and found the defendant being restrained by another man.

He was extremely aggressive and tried to break free.

He threatened he would "have" an officer, pulled and struggled as police tried to handcuff him and had to be forced to the ground. Weekes spat at an officer, narrowly missing his face.

David Lawson, defending, said Weekes had not been in trouble for five years. He and his wife had been having marital difficulties and he had been drinking.

He did not normally drink, but had had 10 cans of lager and a bottle of whisky. The defendant had also been depressed.

He bitterly regretted his actions and had spent some time in police custody. He was now estranged from his wife and living with a friend.