A MAN attempted to punch and spit at police officers following a ‘fight’ outside a bar.

Lewis Thomas has been fined after admitting to criminal damage and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

At Warrington Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, it was heard how the 22-year-old ‘lashed out’ at officers as they tried to help him.

Prosecuting, Gloria McGinlay explained that police were called to High Street in Runcorn after CCTV operators spotted a fight outside The Alchemy.

Upon arrival, officers found Thomas, who was verbally abusive towards them.

Thomas attempted to punch one of the officers, but did not make contact.

He then spat towards the other officer, again missing.

He was arrested and taken to a custody suite, where he repeatedly spat on the floor, despite warnings from the police.

Defending, Julian Tutchener-Ellis explained that his client presents as ‘quite vulnerable’ and has been suffering from anxiety and depression.

He had most recently been prescribed Venlafaxine but had stopped taking it just before the offence as he believed it was making him feel worse.

A friend had invited Thomas out as he felt he needed ‘cheering up’.

Thomas drank ‘rather too much’, Mr Tutchener-Ellis said.

Feeling ‘panicky’, Thomas went and sat outside The Alchemy, where friends and members of the public came out to check on him.

People began touching Thomas, despite him telling them not to, which led to things escalating.

Mr Tutchener-Ellis said that when police arrived, Thomas was ‘presented as the victim’ and was ‘unresponsive’ and ‘injured’ on the floor.

When officers approached him he ‘lashed out’ and was consequently pepper sprayed – which explains why he was spitting in the custody suite.

“He would say sorry (to the officers), he is remorseful,” Mr Tutchener-Ellis added.

Magistrates opted to fine Thomas, of Sycamore Road in Runcorn, a total of £120.

He must also pay a mandatory surcharge of £48 and costs of £85.