POLICE had to restrain a man on the floor of a police van after answering a call to a domestic incident in which both sides claimed they had been hit by the other, Swindon magistrates were told.

Prosecutor Paula Mulherne said that when they tried to calm the situation Clive Rigg raised his fists and became extremely abusive.

They then attempted to remove him but he became so aggressive they were forced to put him on the floor of the van and restrain him with ankle cuffs.

Later when he was interviewed by police he admitted he had been verbally threatening towards the officers.

Rigg, of no fixed address, admitted threatening behaviour.

Mrs Mulherne said his previous convictions included public order offences, assaults on police, drunk and disorderly and a breach of conditional discharge.

Rob Ross, defending, said after his arrest Rigg was bailed to a hostel in Bristol. But after a disagreement with another resident, the hostel, which was known to be very tough on misbehaviour, told him his bail had been breached.

He was taken before Bristol magistrates and during his appearance he used abusive language towards the district judge.

As a result the judge had held him on contempt and jailed him for two weeks.

He was then brought back before Swindon magistrates.

Mr Ross said Rigg accepted that he was an alcoholic, but he had made a good deal of progress towards reducing his consumption. Now, in some ways, he was back to square one.

He suggested a short custodial term and said the defendant would not be returning to the town after release.

The bench jailed Rigg for 14 days.

Tina Clarke