A MAN who was shouting abuse at children while drunk has been fined by magistrates.

Security guard Robert Vaughan was told he 'should know better at his age' after appearing in court charged with being drunk and disorderly.

Vaughan, 49, of Beatrice Street, Gorse Hill, Swindon, was arrested after police received reports of a man making a nuisance of himself in Upper Stratton. Rob Welling, prosecuting, told the court that when officers arrived at Church Walk they saw Vaughan, who was clearly very drunk and shouting and swearing at children.

"He kept saying 'I'll see you in Spain' for no obvious reason," Mr Welling told magistrates.

"He was ranting and raving into his mobile phone and swore at police before saying 'Come and arrest me'. And that is what the police duly did."

He was released on bail to attend court on April 15, a week after the incident, but failed to turn up for the hearing.

Vaughan pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and failing to surrender.

David Gostling, defending, said that his client had been assaulted recently during his work as a security officer.

Stephen Blanchard, chairman of the bench, told him: "A man who is prepared to swear at children ought to be more aware of what he is doing."

He was fined £73 for being drunk and disorderly, £25 for failing to surrender and ordered to pay £80 towards the costs of the case.