AGITATED dad Darren Watkin lashed out at police when they tried to take his son.

Bury magistrates heard how officers were first called to the home of his former girlfriend and the mother of the 28-year-old's young son.

She told police there had been an argument and Watkin had left the house, taking the three-year-old with him.

Officers launched a search of the area, and a short time later Watkin, with his son in a pushchair, was spotted in a nearby street.

Four policemen went to him and found Watkin very agitated. Eventually he agreed to let the officers take the child, but as he walked away he turned round and lunged at the police, shouting that he would not allow them to have his son. In the struggle that followed one officer was bitten and Watkin was put into a van where he kicked out at the partition.

Watkin, of Calder Crescent, Whitefield, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer and public disorder. He was given a three-month curfew order, told to pay compensation of £100 to the police officer and court costs of £60.