A POLICEMAN was saved by his body armour after a man he was placing in the back of a van kicked back "like a donkey" catching him in the chest, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard the officer had taken Steven Quigley out of the van to adjust his handcuffs after he complained they were too tight.

Quigley, 21, of Church Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to police assault. He was made subject to a community rehabilitation order for 12 months and ordered to pay £50 compensation and £120 costs.

Joanne Close, prosecuting, said officers had been called to Quigley's home address to investigate a disturbance. He was behaving in an aggressive manner and was eventually arrested and handcuffed.