A MAN has appeared in court charged with racially abusing a police officer.

Robert Mason, 61, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared at Swindon Magistrates' Court.

The court heard that police officers were called to an address in Rodbourne Road in July after a man, who appeared drunk, was engaged in anti-social behaviour.

When police arrived and tried to move him on he issued a torrent of racial slurs at one of the officers. As a result, he was arrested and taken to a police station.

When interviewed, he claimed he couldn’t remember the incident because he was drunk at the time and he had no recollection of the words he used.

Mason, who often sofa surfs and occasionally lives in a tent, has for many years battled with alcohol.

Alex Daymond, defending, said: “When he was made aware of his conduct, he said he could not believe he spoke to the officer in that way and it was entirely down to alcohol.

“This was a very unpleasant offence, no doubt about it. He was clearly appalled by his own behaviour and it is the racial element that particularly appalled him.

“He did not seek to deny that he had used the words and he realises it was totally unacceptable behaviour. He described the incident as a ‘wake-up call’ for him.”

Mr Daymond described Mason’s alcoholism as “a deeply entrenched problem”, before saying: “He has tried over a long period of time to deal with his alcohol consumption because he knows it will kill him.

“He is a man who needs to get his life sorted out and he clearly needs further support. However, he says he feels better now than he has done in a very long time and he sees his future in a much more positive light.”

Mason was handed a 12-month community order, under supervision of the probation service, and told to attend 20 rehabilitation sessions for alcohol abuse.

He was warned by magistrates that if he failed to control his alcohol intake it may lead to a future custodial sentence.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs plus an £85 victim surcharge.