A wanted man pulled a police officer down a "steep" 3ft drop after he was arrested while camping in woods.
Mark Wilkinson had been detained and handcuffed inside Holywell Dene, in Seaton Sluice, during the hours of darkness and was being cautiously escorted back to the road. However, the drunk 43-year-old turned aggressive and abusive towards officers as they took him past a steep drop, which led down to a further drop and a small river, a court heard.
Wilkinson then shouted "I will dive into the dyke and take you with me" before violently turning his body and pulling one of the constables down the 3ft slope, causing him to fall. Prosecutors said that the victim managed to hold on to Wilkinson and prevent himself falling further while others came to assist.
