A DEFENDANT found himself spending several hours in the cells after he made the mistake of calling a judge “mate.”

Sebastian Stroud, 35, had just been dealt with at Swindon Magistrates Court for a racially aggravated charge of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour and was being asked how he intended to pay outstanding fines dating back five years.

His muttered “I’m not working, mate” was met with a stern “I am not your mate” from District Judge Simon Cooper, who added: “I am not going to be spoken to like that.”

Stroud was warned he was close to being in contempt of court and a dock officer was called to escort him down the stairs to the cells.

Earlier in the hearing on Wednesday prosecutor James Burnham detailed how police were called to a domestic disturbance on March 14.

They tried to enter the house to check on the welfare of his son inside but Stroud refused them entry and began filming them. He was verbally abusive and obstructive.

He was arrested to get him out of their way, but he reacted by shouting: “White bastard, you c***, you’re white I’m black you white bastard.”

Stroud, of Tennyson Street, admitted the allegation but the court heard he had previous convictions for similar matters.

His solicitor Ryan O’Donnell, said father of four Stroud agreed his comments towards the police officers were unacceptable.

“He felt the police were being particularly heavy-handed, but he accepts that being abusive towards them was not particularly helpful," said Mr O'Donnell.

The judge fined Stroud £160 with £35 prosecution costs and £30 towards victim services.

He then drew the defendant’s attention to a conviction in February 2013 for an assault on police, for which he was given a community order and told to pay a £60 victim surcharge along with compensation of £50 to the officer. He had paid just £15 since then. He had also had costs award against him for breaching the order.

And in both June and September last year he was fined again for similar offences, said the judge, who asked how Stroud planned to pay them off.

“I now need him to make a proper payment or I will be committing him,” the judge advised Mr O’Donnell as his client was taken down to the cells.

Stroud spent several hours in the cells for showing disrespect towards the judge and was later released.