Fined for assault after one too many sherberts’

ELY man Stephen Hearn had drunk one too many sherbets before he subjected police to abuse outside the Waitrose store in Ely. Officers had been called to the area to break up a fight between three men, Ely magistrates were told on Thursday. A crowd of pe

ELY man Stephen Hearn had drunk "one too many sherbets" before he subjected police to abuse outside the Waitrose store in Ely.

Officers had been called to the area to break up a fight between three men, Ely magistrates were told on Thursday.

A crowd of people had gathered to watch the incident, and heard the foul language Hearn used.

When warned about his behaviour, 51-year-old Hearn continued the abuse, said prosecutor Yetunde Fawehinmi.

"He was handcuffed, and he started to encourage a third person to assault an officer," she said. "As a result of his behaviour he was arrested and taken to Parkside Police Station in Cambridge.

Hearn, who has a "care-of" address in High Barns, Ely, admitted using disorderly behaviour in Ely on April 27. He has a lengthy record of previous convictions, including one for being drunk and disorderly earlier this year, the court heard.

Mitigating, Jacqui Baldwin said Hearn had been assaulted before police arrived, and was in an agitated state.

"He had had one too many sherbets" she explained. "He made a misjudgement, and knows his behaviour was unacceptable.

"His behaviour was not something that should be done at 5pm in the afternoon in the streets of Ely. He asks me to apologise to the public of Ely."

Hearn has a drink problem, he does not drink every day but when he drinks, he drinks to excess, she added.

Hearn was fined £100, but he will not be asked to pay the cash as magistrates said a night in a police cell was punishment enough.