A BINMAN assaulted two police officers after a night out drinking, a court has heard.

Billy Arran Jenson, 25, pleaded guilty to drunk and disorderly behaviour and assaulting two police officers when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Shafquat Reaz, prosecuting, said that on August 24, police were passing The Venue nightclub on Gaol Street, Hereford when they saw an 'unsteady' Jenson involved in a row with a club bouncer.

They asked him to calm down and warned him he would be arrested if he continued, but Jenson continued shouting and swearing at the doorman.

A struggle ensued when police attempted to put handcuffs on Jenson, and he was being restrained on the ground with the help of club staff when he grabbed PC Natasha Markham with force on the inside of her thigh.

Jenson was put in the police van, where he proceeded to hit his head repeatedly.

When taken out of the van, he scratched the arm of PC James Smith.

Emily Gourley, defending, said Jenson, of Woodward Avenue, Hereford, had been drinking more heavily than usual and that earlier that night he had been asked to leave The Kerry pub on Commercial Road.

"He took it on the chin and went to another pub, where he had a good night" Mrs Gourley said.

"But on the way home he saw the bouncer who had chucked him out of The Kerry, for what he thought was no good reason.

"He says he would not have grabbed PC Markham if he had known she was a woman."

Jenson was fined £50 for drunk and disorderly behaviour and £75 for each of the assaults. He was ordered to pay £50 in compensation to both PCs Markham and Smith, costs of £185 and a £35 victim surcharge.

  • An earlier version of this report said Mr Jenson "punched" the arm of PC James Smith. We wish to withdraw this word from our report.