MAGISTRATES have awarded £900 compensation to policemen who were spat on by a man they arrested.

One of the officers was bitten on a finger, said John Barnett, prosecuting at Kidderminster.

Gareth Armstrong, 27, of Manorside, Mustow Green, was also ordered to carry out 240 hours of work on a community punishment order and to pay £55 costs.

He admitted four assaults on police and having an offensive weapon.

Armstrong was arrested after a disturbance at a house on the Habberley estate, Mr Barnett told the court.

He was aggressive and violent and the police took an extending baton from him.

The violence continued at the police station and Armstrong was still shouting and spitting when he was locked in a cell.

He had lost control when a row broke out at a party, said Jonathan Dollin, for Armstrong.

He was ashamed of his behaviour.

The weapon was in his clothing and was not produced during the incident.

Armstrong had taken it from a man who attacked him earlier in the evening, outside a pub.