A DRUNKEN man assaulted two special constables when they intervened in a row in the town centre, Swindon magistrates heard.

Paul Burry was seen shouting into a woman's face when the specials, who were on patrol in the early hours, decided to calm the situation, said Paula Mulherne, prosecuting.

But when the female officer asked Burry to back away from the woman, he began shouting and swearing.

Her male colleague approached and took hold of the defendant's arm but was hit in the arm and the other officer was pushed away, she said.

The abuse and threats continued and Burry struggled so violently he was put in leg cuffs.

The 19-year-old was arrested and charged with assaulting two police officers.

He admitted both offences when he appeared yesterday.

Lee Mott, defending, said his client was surprised to hear the facts given by the prosecution because he could not remember much about the incident.

But he stressed that the situation had not been quite as the officers perceived.

He had been enjoying a night out with friends and relatives when one of them got involved in an argument with another woman.

He had managed to separate them but an argument developed between him and one of the women. "It was an argument he did not start and did not particularly want," Mr Mott said.

The officers were not there during the earlier argument and when they arrived they felt that he was the one causing the problems. Mr Mott said this was not the case and his client probably felt unjustifiably picked out by the police.

But he admitted that he reacted badly and the situation escalated out of control.

Mr Mott also pointed to inconsistencies in the officers' reports over the number of times they were hit and said Burry had not had the opportunity of being interviewed at the police station.

The magistrates adjourned the case until September 10 for reports.

Tina Clarke