JOBLESS Paul King apologised to magistrates for insulting a police officer following a brawl with another man at a Chippenham pub.

King, 22, of Downham Mead, Chippenham, pleaded guilty to a public order offence when he appeared before North Wiltshire magistrates in Chippenham on Monday.

He was fined £70 and ordered to pay £55 costs.

Michelle Hewitt, prosecuting, said King was arrested after police were called to The Borough Arms, in Wood Lane, at 11.40pm on March 1 following reports of two men fighting.

"They attempted to separate them by telling them to calm down and stand back from one another," said Ms Hewitt.

PC Rob Kilgour, of Chippenham police, forced King back to the rear of the pub.

He repeatedly asked him to calm down but King continued to shout.

Ms Hewitt said King was verbally abusive towards PC Kilgour.

He then made a lunge for the other man, at which point he was arrested.

King was bleeding from a wound above his right eye. He was taken to hospital to be treated before being taken into custody.

Ms Hewitt said that King had previous convictions for public order offences.

Addressing the court, King apologised for insulting PC Kilgour. He said he behaved in that way because he had just been beaten up.

Asked by magistrates whether drink had played a part in his behaviour, King said: "I definitely would not have been like that had I been sober."

King said he was due to attend a job interview, and hoped to be back in work soon.