A MAN who played a part in a drink-fuelled incident filmed and shared on social media thousands of times has been spared jail.

Magistrates in Workington heard that Jack Declan Nicholson, 26, picked up an A-board swinging sign and put it over his head in a threatening manner, before the swinging sign smacked him in the face.

Appearing at the court on Friday, Nicholson admitted assaulting a police officer by beating him, using threatening behaviour, obstructing a constable in the execution of duty and being violent at a police station.

It follows an incident in Workington town centre on August 8, after two of Nicholson's associates were arrested on Campbell Savours Way.

Amy Labram, prosecuting, said: "He started shouting abuse and approaching officers closely, he was told to move away and stop. He was seen by officers and members of the public lifting a local shop sign, he put this above his head in a threatening manner, there's a video to show this. The officers approached him and he ran off, they pursued him and he was located and arrested."

She added that when he was brought to custody he was aggressive and obstructive and had to be physically restrained. He kicked PC Anson to the leg and then threatened to spit and bite officers, before they put him in a spit-hood.

Magistrates heard Nicholson had 26 convictions for 43 offences and that these latest offences had been committed while he was subject to a community order.

John Cooper, defending, told magistrates that Nicholson had mental health issues. He is currently living in emergency accommodation in Workington and is engaging with the probation service as well as Unity, a drug and alcohol recovery service.

He said: "During the interview he said he couldn't remember the incident and he apologised to officers."

Mr Cooper told magistrates the two people arrested ahead of the incident involving Nicholson were Mark Whitehead and Kelly Anne Smyth.

Whitehead was handed a fine while Smyth was given a curfew.

The solicitor said the video showed Nicholson shouting but it wasn't clear if he was shouting at the officers or at Smyth.

He added: "When he raised the A-board sign above his head you can tell people are concerned, but he's nowhere near police, he is about five metres away. It's a sign that swings and it smacked him in the face because he's had a drink. He thought he was doing something stupid and funny, not threatening. The obstructing is relatively minor, he's mainly carrying on."

Mr Cooper said that the kicks to the officer happened when they were sat, so they could not have caused serious injury.

The probation service said Nicholson had been engaging really well with the service in the last few months.

The court heard he was found unconscious with a head injury in Workington town centre at the beginning of June.

He was in hospital for two weeks but then discharged himself against medical advice, but doctors likened the effects of what he suffered to a stroke.

Magistrates were told that if Nicholson was jailed he would lose his emergency accommodation. obstructing the positive progress made.

Nicholson was handed a 84-day prison sentence suspended for 12 months. The reasons for the suspension are to maintain his accommodation, because of the progress made and due to his mental health appointments.

Nicholson must comply with a community order with a requirement to complete 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.

He must pay £50 compensation to PC Anson, £122 victim surcharge and £85 costs.