A YOUNG man from Ellesmere Port had to be sprayed with tear gas after he threatened to “spark out” a police officer, a court heard.

Ryan Andrew McHugh, 22, had been kicking the door of a home on a busy Chester road on June 7 when officers were called to the scene.

PC Adam Burke attempted to calm the defendant down but his attempts were met with abuse.

“He threatened to assault the officer,” said prosecutor Alan Currums at Chester Magistrates Court on Monday (June 17). “He was saying ‘I’m going to spark you out’.”

The officer then used incapacitant spray “which had an immediate effect on the defendant”, who was then handcuffed.

While on police bail for this offence, McHugh was later spotted acting suspiciously near an underpass in Chester on June 15.

Officers saw an item being dropped and he was found to have a wrap of white powder – later revealed to be amphetamine - with him when he was searched.

McHugh then became abusive, calling the officers "f***ing c***s" several times, Mr Currums said.

David Matthews, defending, told the court his client had explained to the officers that some of the powder was actually prescription medication for ADHD and a cyst on the back of his head.

McHugh, of Pound Road, Little Sutton, made full admissions in both police interviews and was “compliant” once he had calmed down.

Despite a number of previous convictions for the likes of assault and criminal damage he was now determined to get his life on track and was about to undertake a forklift truck drivers’ course.

Magistrates sentenced him to a 12-month community order to include 100 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay £85 court costs and an £85 victim surcharge.