ARRESTED for being drunk and disorderly in a public place a man then racially abused the police officer taking him into custody.

James McCarthy was arrested on Saturday after police attended his home address on Graham Street where they found him outside at around 9.50pm.

Prosecuting, Michelle Hewitt told the court officers had offered him some words of advice to leave the area, but he refused.

She said: "He had to be restrained by officers when he refused to get out of the road."

He was taken to Gablecross Police Station where he made a number of offensive, racially aggravated remarks to PC Simon Sanghera who had arrested him.

He was described as being obstructive to officers while in custody and had to be taken to the floor.

36-year-old McCarthy pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and racially harassing PC Sanghera, and sat in the dock with his head in his hands while the evidence was heard against him.

Ms Hewitt also read a statement from PC Sanghera which said: "I am a proud Indian police officer and I cannot believe that in this day and age it is acceptable to use this language to another human being."

Defending him, Kim Moules told the court that McCarthy had moved back in with his wife seven months ago, but after an argument with their son she asked him to leave.

"When they found him in the street being drunk and disorderly he says he went back to get his belongings and was some distance away from the house," said Ms Moules.

"With regard to the racially aggravated incident he and his uncle had been drinking that day and unfortunately he doesn't have much memory of his time in custody, but you can see how it has affected him today. He is completely ashamed of his behaviour on that night.

"He is not a racist and doesn't know why he said that to the police officer."

She added that McCarthy was eager to make a full apology to the officer.

The court also heard from the probation service who had spoken to him in the cell and they advised magistrates that McCarthy intended to move you caravan site in Bristol with his uncle.

Sentencing him, chairman of the bench Timothy Foster told him that had the offence not been racially aggravated he would have received a financial penalty.

"However it is racially aggravated," he said. "We consider it serious enough to make a community order."

He was sentenced to a 12 month order, during which he must carry out 20 rehabilitative days and carry out 40 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge and £150 in compensation to PC Sanghera.

Leaving the dock McCarthy said he was "very sorry" and asked for his apologies to be passed on to the officer. He said: "I really am sorry, I love everyone for who they are."