POLICE were left with no choice but to arrest drunken reveller Richard James after he began picking fights with members of the public in the street, a court heard this week.

The 43-year-old was remonstrating with passers-by outside the Townhouse Pub in Ely and continued to swear and abuse other people despite police warnings to leave the area, eventually forcing officers to arrest him for using threatening and abusive words in order to cause harassment.

Appearing at Cambridge Magistrates Court on Thursday, James, of Limes Close in Littleport was fined �100, order to pay �85 court costs as well as a �15 victim surcharge.

Crown prosecutor Laura Mardell told magistartes that the incident took place in the early hours of May 21 on Market Street in Ely, with officers arriving to find James arguing with another man.

After the two were separated, James was asked to leave the area but continued to swear at officers and passers-by. Friends of the 43-year-old attempted to pull him away from the area but James refused to leave.

“He was trying to start trouble with random members of the public in the street,” Ms Mardell told the court, “he was warned by the police but continued to abuse members of the public and police arrested him.”

Representing himself in court, James told magistrates: “I was assaulted inside the pub that is why I was angry. All I can say is sorry.”