AN ALCOHOLIC was fined £5 by magistrates after pleading guilty to being drunk and disorderly.

Abdi Mohammed Muse, 38, of Regents Hotel, Victoria Road forced traffic to a standstill when he wandered into the middle of the road in Corporation Street and started shouting at motorists.

Muse pleaded guilty to the offence at Swindon Magistrates Court yesterday.

The court heard how on February 24 Muse had stood in the road and put his hands on the bonnet of a car and started shouting at the driver.

Prosecutor Frank Murphy said that when arrested Muse swore at PC Gary Wells a number of times and spat at him twice, missing him on both occasions.

But Lee Mott, defending, said that Muse's state as an alcoholic was due to injuries he received in an attack when he arrived in England from Somalia 15 years ago.

Mr Mott claimed Muse drank to ease the pain of his injuries and that the day in question was one of his bad days.

"He was led to drink simply because the painkillers were not enough on the bad days," Mr Mott said.

"He has had a drink problem ever since the attack.

"He knows that what he has done here is wrong."

Chairman of the bench David Holder said the court made no order for Muse, who receives income support, to pay costs because of his financial situation.