A MAN has been cleared of biting a police officer on the hand during a scuffle in a pub.

Stuart Walker, 37, was accused of assaulting PC Mark York-Wade when he was called to the Oakwood pub in Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, following reports of a disturbance.

However, at Basildon Crown Court yesterday unemployed Walker was cleared of biting the officer.

Walker admitted smashing a window of the pub on the same day after staff, who had ordered him off the premises, refused to let him in.

Sentencing Walker to 80-hours unpaid work for the community for the criminal damage, Judge Michael Brooke QC told him: "This was drunken, disorderly behaviour.

"In my judgment it does not pass the custodial threshold, but it certainly passes the community order threshold.

"I am going to order you to perform some hours of unpaid work for the public good."

Judge Brooke QC said he had also taken into account the fact Walker had suffered as result of being "manhandled" by the police when they handcuffed him, even though he had injured his arm when he broke the window.

Walker, of Augustus Street, Camden, was also ordered to pay £150 compensation to pub landlord John Tarling.