A man has been ordered to pay compensation to a police officer after kicking him in the face while drunk.

Oliver Atkins, of Danebury Road in Brighouse, admitted charges of drunk and disorderly behaviour and assaulting a constable in the execution of his duty.

The 30-year-old appeared at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court today.

At just after midnight on August 9 Atkins was ejected from Lloyds Bar on King Street in Huddersfield town centre.

Police attended to assist door staff with this, prosecutor Alex Bozman said.

He said: “Mr Atkins was being restrained on the ground, he was being abusive and aggressive.

“He was taken to a police van and wasn’t co-operative with getting in.

“In the course of him trying to stop the cage door from being closed behind him he made contact with a Pc with his foot.”

Atkins struck the officer in the forehead and face, causing some reddening.

Jonathan Slawinski, mitigating, said that the action was reckless rather than deliberate.

He said: “It was a small van and he’s quite tall. When they were trying to get him into the van his foot got stuck in the cage and he was upset.

“He kicked out towards the door and the officer describes his foot catching him.”

Mr Slawinski added that Atkins’ offending was drink-related in the past.

He said that he has since taken up boxing to channel his aggression.

But due to a break from boxing in the summer, the electrician had gone out drinking and become involved in the incident.

District Judge Michael Fanning sentenced Atkins to a 10-week curfew.

He must also pay £80 compensation to the hurt officer as well as £85 costs and £60 victim surcharge.