A SKIPTON man ended up having an 'incapacitant' spray used on him by police after he stepped in to help his brother, a court heard.

Joshua Beck, 24, had been out drinking with his brother in Skipton on April 30 when police had got involved in an issue between his brother and the pub door staff.

Despite being warned to keep away, Beck took hold of police sergeant Kay's stab vest and the pair of them ended up on the ground, the Skipton court was told.

The officer was bruised from the fall to the ground, but was otherwise uninjured.

Beck, who admitted assault of a police officer, had been PAVA sprayed and had spent the night in custody, the court heard.

Mitigating, John Mewies, said it had been an unseemly incident that had taken place in the centre of town. The brothers, who were very close, had gone out on a Saturday evening and had ended up in a pub with door staff. Beck's older brother had been asked to leave, but had tried to get back in to retrieve some belongings, said Mr Mewies.

He said it was then when the police had got involved and when Beck had interjected because he thought his brother was in pain because of an old ankle injury.

Beck had ended up being PAVA sprayed in the face, arrested and taken to Harrogate Police Station, where he remained overnight.

Magistrates told Beck, of Cowper Street, Skipton, he had been in drink and despite being warned to keep away, had assaulted a police officer when there were other people around.

He was fined £200 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and surcharge of £30. He will also have to pay £100 compensation to Ps Kay.