A FELIXSTOWE lorry driver is �680 poorer today after admitting punching a police officer in the mouth.

A FELIXSTOWE lorry driver is �680 poorer today after admitting punching a police officer in the mouth.

South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court in Ipswich heard Stuart Tricker was out with friends when the incident occurred outside The Bandbox on Bent Hill in Felixstowe.

Prosecutor Lesla Small said two men had been ejected from the nightspot at 3am on February 2 because they were drunk. They then became embroiled in an argument with police after trying to force their way back in.

As the pair became aggressive and abusive, Tricker of Beach Station Caravan Park, Walton Avenue, got involved in the fracas.

A policeman pushed Tricker back and, in return, the 47-year-old shoved the officer.

Tricker was told to go away, but refused and ended up striking the officer in the mouth, drawing blood.

PAVA spray was used to subdue the self-employed lorry driver, although he kept on struggling before he was rugby tackled to the ground.

The court heard Tricker also sustained injuries during the incident, which needed treatment.

Ms Small said Tricker had consumed eight bottles of Becks beer that night, although Tricker himself denied being drunk.

During his mitigation he said: “I was still quite sober at that point.”

Tricker said when he put his hand up to protect himself from the PAVA spray he was hit from behind.

Sentencing him, District Judge David Cooper told the court Tricker had two convictions in 2006, one for being drunk and disorderly, the other for resisting a police constable.

Accepting his plea of guilty for assaulting a police constable in the execution of their duty, Judge Cooper fined Tricker �500.

He also ordered him to pay �65 costs and a victim surcharge of �15.

A compensation payment of �100 was also ordered to be paid to the police officer for his injuries.