A "FRUSTRATED" agency worker who headbutted a police officer after being chucked out of a pub wiped away tears as the assault was recollected in court.

Wayne Darby admitted assaulting the officer after he was thrown out of Abingdon's The Blue Boar pub for getting caught up in a rift there on June 12.

The 45-year-old also admitted smashing a drain pipe at the Bath Street pub and resisting officers when they attempted to arrest him.

Prosecutor Sarah Mackay told Oxford Magistrates' Court on Monday officers were called after reports Darby was being restrained by door staff.

She said police were forced to mist Darby with captor spray after he resisted arrest and stood near officers with clenched fists.

Ms Mackay said he headbutted an officer, who fell into a parked vehicle before collapsing to the floor, leaving him with bruising and swelling to his right cheek and eye.

The prosecutor said officers, who had called for urgent assistance, were able to arrest Darby when the cactus spray finally took effect.

In interview with police, Darby said: "I'm disgusted. It was reckless and stupid and I cannot apologise enough. I'm appalled at what I have done."

Nadine Colyer, defending, said Darby was out with his wife, mother-in-law and her partner on the night of the assault.

She said he was trying to protect his family from rowdy youths "pushing and shoving" others in the pub, when door staff kicked him out.

But she said he took his frustrations out on them when he was refused back in to get his wife, who was punched, and mother-in-law, who was knocked to the ground, during the disturbance.

Ms Colyer said the next day, Darby did not know he had been arrested but "broke down" after he was told he attacked the officer and later when he watched CCTV of the night.

She said Darby felt ashamed and wrote an apology to the officer, adding : "He cannot explain why he acted in that way."

Darby, of Neave Mews, Abingdon, was fined £265 and ordered to pay £85 costs, a £30 victim surcharge and £100 compensation.