A young man who was arrested when police found him carrying a heavy stick kicked one of them in the face when he was in custody.

Noah Dixon became overwhelmed when he was inside the station and panicked when he was told he would be held in the cell, Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard.

The 19-year-old, who has been diagnosed with autism, was unable to contain his emotions after he was arrested, magistrates heard.

Paul Doney, prosecuting, said Dixon was arrested when police were called to a disturbance on Kirkstone Avenue, Peterlee, and they recovered the cosh from him.

“When he was arrested and searched, he was found with a cosh in the back of his trousers,” he said.

“When he was taken to the police station, he was initially compliant but started saying he couldn’t go in the cell

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