A MAN ripped a radio earpiece from a policeman's face then fought against three officers outside a police station, a court heard.

During the skirmish, Mark Townend snatched a mobile phone from the same officer and kicked it in the path of oncoming traffic, magistrates were told.

Townend, 27, of Abbotsbury Road, Weymouth, was 10 minutes late reporting to the town's police station as part of his bail conditions, prosecutor Jane Marlow said.

She added: "He attended the station at 8.10pm on May 31, 2006 and was taken to one side by PC Stephen Yeoman to remind him he was supposed to report for 8pm.

"PC Yeoman was greeted by a tirade of abuse and swearing and called for assistance."

Weymouth magistrates were told Townend was then arrested but began to struggle with the officers.

"Mr Townend ripped the radio out of PC Yeoman's ear causing it to snap. He was taken out on to the road where he kicked a police mobile on to the road and a car ran over it."

The court heard that in a police interview Townend admitted grabbing hold of one of the officer's legs and spitting at him.

Magistrates were also told PC Mark Edgar had a small scratch to his left elbow and suffered pain in his right arm, elbow and back as a result of the altercation.

Townend was found guilty of three charges of assaulting police officers on May 31 2006, a charge of destroying a mobile phone, a charge of destroying an airwave earpiece, a charge of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and of failing his bail conditions.

He pleaded guilty to a further three charges of assaulting police officers and a charge of failing his bail conditions on November 10, 2007.

Ms Marlow told the court how Townend was drunk when he was arrested at the pleasure pier on The Esplanade in Weymouth on November 10 for failing bail conditions.

She said: "Mr Townend kicked PC Alexander Head once in the legs while shouting and swearing.

"PC Mark Edgar felt a sharp pain in his left calf. Mr Townend had grabbed hold of the officer's leg."

Magistrates were told how PC Edgar had to punch Townend twice on his arm to get him to loosen his grip and used incapacitant spray and leg restraints.

Defending, Gerard Lidgey said in mitigation: "Mr Townend is seeking help from the community mental health team."

Townend will be sentenced for both incidentson March 6.