A POLICE officer was left with damaged teeth and needing extensive dental treatment after he was headbutted by a man said to be wanted on warrant, a court heard.

Burnley magistrates were told how the prosecution claimed Samuel Robert Longworth, 23, deliberately struck PC Andrew Ashworth, while the defendant alleged he had been reckless.

PC Ashworth ended up with a dead tooth after the root and nerve had to be removed following the assault at Longworth's home on July 31.

Longworth, of Cog Street, Burnley, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm. He will face a trial on November 1 and may be committed to the crown court for sentence.

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, told the court the victim went to the defendant's home with a colleague at 10am over an outstanding warrant.

Longworth, who said he had just got up, was irritable and agitated, walked into the living room and began pacing around. His mood blackened, he became more agitated and swore.

Mr Parker said Longworth went upstairs, but officers followed him and when he was about to go downstairs PC Ashworth got hold of his wrist to assert control.

The victim went to apply handcuffs, which malfunctioned, and Longworth was said to have dropped down on his knees and sprung up, jerking backwards and deliberately headbutting the officer.

The prosecutor said the victim felt pain in his face, could taste blood in his mouth and thought his front teeth had been knocked out. He could feel that his teeth were not aligned and couldn't put them together.

Mr Parker said PC Ashworth had to see a dental surgeon and although he had suffered no fractures, there was nerve death, an abcess had to be removed and he was left with a dead tooth. Longworth had 11 previous convictions.

Trevor Grice, defending, said Longworth was physically restrained by an officer who put his thumbs under the defendant's armpits.

That hurt him, he yelled out, went backwards and there was a police officer behind him.