BRAWLING in the street led to a £500 fine for a Melksham man at Chippenham magistrates' court on Thursday.

Wayne Cleere, 33, pleaded guilty to a public order offence after an incident in the Lowbourne area of the town last May.

The court heard Cleere, of Berryfield Park, was in the town in the early hours of May 9 when he became involved in an altercation with a group of men.

Alex Daymond, defending, told the court Cleere had been on a night out with friends.

Just before this incident there had been another disturbance in the same area, to which police were called.

He said Cleere had not been involved in the earlier incident but was approached by a number of security staff from Buds nightclub, who thought he had been.

He was then seen by police to throw a punch, knocking one of the men to the ground.

Mr Daymond said: "This was a case of mistaken identity. He accepts that in that situation he over-reacted. He was being accused of something he hadn't done."

Police officers had to use CS gas to restrain Cleere and one officer sustained a strain to his wrist during the incident.

Mr Daymond said Cleere was not aware the police had become involved in the altercation and calmed down as soon as he realised officers were there.

Magistrates ordered him to pay compensation of £50 and costs of £140, as well as the fine.