Gordon Roberts, 39, of Western Road, had to be restrained by officers as they were investigating a disturbance in Bexhill.

Prosecutor Alison May said: "The defendant declined to with the officers when they spoke to him as he was very drunk.

"He became verbally aggressive and started kicking at the officers, hitting one in the leg.

"One regained control of him but the defendant spat in his face and again while he was in the police van.

"In interview he said he was unhappy about being arrested when he had done nothing wrong."

Roberts appeared before Hastings magistrates in court on Friday and pleaded guilty to one charge of assaulting police.

The incident happened on August 5.

Aiden Harvey, defending, said: "The defendant has a seven-year-old child and there is no-one else to look after the child.

"He has no previous convictions of a similar nature."

Magistrates adjourned the case until September 8 so pre-sentence reports could be prepared.