A MAN has admitted assaulting two police officers in an early morning attack.

Niall Hawkins, aged 37, of Bright Lane, Chideock appeared at Weymouth Magistrates Court on Monday charged with four offences.

He was charged with one count of assault, two counts of actual bodily harm and one count of dangerous driving.

Two police officers needed hospital treatment following the assault.

Hawkins was arrested at the scene by officers and was remanded in custody until his appearance at the magistrates court.

The charges relate to an incident which happened near Bridport on Sunday morning.

Dorset Police were called to an incident shortly after 10.20am, to reports that a woman had been assaulted in Netherbury, near Beaminster.

The first charge of actual bodily harm relates to an an assault causing actual bodily harm against PC Timothy Sturgess and the second an assault against Police Sergeant Martin Davenport shortly before 11am on Sunday.

There is also a common assault charge for an assault against Annabel Hawkins.

This assault took place at Stevens Close, Netherbury on the same morning before the police officers arrived at the scene.

Hawkins will appear at Dorchester Crown Court to be sentenced for the four charges.

The offence of dangerous driving saw Hawkins drive a Volkswagen Golf dangerously on an unclassified road between Ash Lane and Pymore Lane in a rural area of West Dorset between Bridport and Beaminster.

Hawkins appeared at Weymouth Magistrates Court, wearing a red T-shirt, only to confirm his name, address and to enter his pleas on Monday afternoon.

The case was sent to Dorchester Crown Court for sentencing due to the severity of the offences.

Dorset Police confirmed that they were called at 10.23am on Sunday to an alleged assault in Netherbury, near Beaminster.

A spokesman for Dorset Police confirmed that the two police officers received hospital treatment following the attack, and had been forced to take time off work due to the injuries.

Hawkins was not granted bail and was remanded in custody by magistrates until his sentencing next month.

Hawkins will appear at the crown court at County Hall in Dorchester on Friday, July 17.