AN AUTISTIC man who racially abused police officers claimed he was ignored when he showed his disability card, a court heard.

Andrew Latham, 44, of Moredon Park, admitted three counts of using racially abusive language to officers from Gablecross police station on March 30 when he appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

The court heard police were called to an address in Westbourne Court to reports of a male and female shouting when, after being told to stop, Latham began using racist language to an officer and was arrested.

Pauline Lambert, prosecuting, said: “He was told to keep the noise down but he proceeded to use this (racist) language against the arresting officer.

"After his arrest, Latham was taken to the police station and placed in a cell where he continued to abuse officers.

“At 7.45am on March 31, the officer opens a large spyhole to speak to Mr Latham and sees a puddle of what he believes to be urine on the floor,” she said.

“The officer then saw him performing what looked like a Nazi salute and shouting.”

She said the attack had a negative emotional impact on the arresting officer.

“This left him feeling upset, he was going about his work, and this was a personal attack towards him,” she added.

Robert Ross, defending, said: “He suffers from autistic spectrum disorder.

"Upon being arrested, Mr Latham showed them his disability card, detailing his condition, but the police did nothing about it - 95 or 98 per cent of the time he is a normal and decent human being.”

He said Latham had had an “autistic meltdown” because he was detained and being in unfamiliar surroundings.

“You put him under stress he suffers what is known to be an autistic meltdown, it then causes the person to do things they wouldn’t normally do,” he added.

Magistrates were told that Latham was receiving the help of a support worker, and was making steps to gain independence, including passing his driving test in recent months.

Bench chairman Deborah Couzens said the sentence would not be increased as a result of the abuse, due to his condition.

“Noting the defendant’s mental illness and the fact that he showed his card to police so they would understand the situation, obviously that wasn’t done for whatever reason, so we see fit not to enhance the sentence,” she said.

He received a nine-month community order and was told to pay £85 costs and a £60 surcharge.