A MAN admitted hitting a police officer with his walking stick while being drunk and disorderly.

Simon Day, 40, of no fixed address, struck Dean Young with his walking stick when he responded to reports Day was frustrating residents with his drunken behaviour.

He admitted assault and being drunk and disorderly when he appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court.

Day’s solicitor, Simon Samuels, said if Mr Young had approached him calmly Day would not have become aggressive on the day of the incident,which took place at about noon on July 1.

He fined £73 and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs.