A 27-YEAR-OLD Swindon man has been ordered to pay a £100 fine after racially insulting a police officer.

Luke Akers, of Charmind Walk, Winterbourne Road, Swindon, pleaded guilty to the charge following his arrest on Christmas Day after police were called to reports of disorder in The Circle, Pinehurst.

Prosecuting, Nick Barr said: “When you had been taken into custody you were asked if you had every self-harmed to which you replied 'not until I met this black b*******,' referring to one of the police officers, Eric Frempong.”

At Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Akers also pleaded guilty to one charge of being drunk and disorderly and being in possession of a Class B drug.

The court heard how police arrived at The Circle, Pinehurst, to find Akers “slurring, unsteady on his feet and concerned about his behaviour” and that they gave him “numerous chances to desist his behaviour”.

He also admitted to police that he was holding a joint of cannabis in his hand before he was arrested.

Defending, Ann Ellery said: “He’s not someone who takes cannabis and didn’t know how he came to have it in his hand.

“He’s not racist but accepts that what he said was offensive.”

Returning his verdict, Judge Simon Cooper said: “You are to pay a fine of £100 for racially aggravated insult and the police officer will have the satisfaction of knowing you have been convicted.”

Akers was ordered to pay a total of £255 in fines.