A 24-year-old man has been given 160 hours unpaid work after he admitted assaulting a police officer and obstructing another.

Scott Doak of Keane Road, King's Lynn, had earlier admitted possessing cannabis and breaching a conditional discharge, Lynn magistrates heard.

Police were sent to Gaywood Plantation, in King's Lynn, on the evening of February 4, after reports a motorcycle had been stolen.

The court heard PC Oliver Gilder was on the scene when he was asked to stop a male cycling towards him down a path, who was Scott Doak.

Alison Cotterill, prosecuting, said Doak was 15m from PC Gilder he shouted at him to stop. She added: 'Doak continued to cycle at speed and rode straight at the officer.'

PC Gilder pinned Doak to railings, the court was told. Sgt Howard Elvidge arrived shortly afterwards and told Doak he was being detained. A scuffle broke out after he took a ball of silver foil, which contained a quantity of cannabis, from a pocket of Doak's hoodie. Doak tried to push past the officers and ended up on the ground on top of PC Gilder.

'Doak used his fist to make contact with the face and tried to run off towards a nearby ditch,' said Mrs Cotterill.

Doak was overpowered as more officers arrived. When interviewed, he said he had been cycling home when he was taken off his bike but couldn't remember anything else.

Mrs Cotterill said no injuries to the officers were recorded. Doak admitted possessing cannabis and breaching a conditional discharge imposed on September 12 for obstructing police.

Andrew Cogan, defending, said Doak had been pushed into the railing by PC Gilder, adding he had no recollection of what happened afterwards.

Mr Cogan said the amount of cannabis was 'a tiny, tiny amount'. He said Doak suffered from depression and had been told he was likely to develop Huntingdon's disease, but had recently been offered support from the Prince's Trust.

Magistrates sentenced Doak to 160 hours' unpaid work for the assault and obstruction and no separate penalty for the drugs.

The conditional discharge was allowed to run and he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £85 and a contribution of £40 towards costs.