FAMILY man Bryan Spooner punched a police officer who was having an affair with his wife.

He thumped David Bate hard in the face, loosening two teeth, York Crown Court heard.

The policeman had wrecked Spooner's marriage by having the affair with his wife.

Now the couple, who have two children, will separate and are to sell their home.

"Many people may well consider that the actions of (Mr Bate) are the more reprehensible," said Harold Shaw, defending Spooner.

Spooner, 32, of Woodlands Drive, Barlby, near Selby, could have been jailed for assault.

But the Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, said there were "special circumstances" to the incident in the Black A Moor pub in Selby, and gave Spooner a 12-month conditional discharge instead of a prison sentence.

Spooner pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm. He had no previous convictions. He must pay £748 prosecution costs.

Prosecuting, Mark McKone said Mr Bate, a police officer based in Hull, was off duty and had drunk eight pints on the evening of May 12.

Then he encountered Spooner in the Black A Moor - and Spooner told him he had three minutes to get out of the pub.

Mr Bate did not leave and Spooner hit him once in the face near his mouth, loosening, but not removing, two teeth. The teeth were put back into position by casualty staff and did not require specialist dental treatment.

Mr Bate did not want Spooner imprisoned for the attack and accepted he was responsible to some extent for what had happened. Mr Shaw said Spooner had been under very great provocation and had been very distressed when he was arrested.

He was of good character. He and his wife were to sell their matrimonial home.