A FORMER Labour councillor ended up in a cell after calling a judge “stupid”.

Noel O’Brien clashed several times with District Judge Tim Devas about his behaviour in court, including keeping his hat on for religious reasons.

After making a mess of taking the oath O’Brien, a former Haslingden councillor, was told by the judge at Manchester Magistrates Court to stop, “posturing and showing off-and being stupid.”

He was held in contempt when he turned to the judge and shouted: “You are just a stupid judge.”

And as a policeman hauled him off to the cells in handcuffs the 59-year-old widower began humming.

Half an hour later he returned to court and apologised to the judge saying: “It seems my natural demeanour tends to upset people. I deeply regret that and I’m sorry if I have caused any mental stress.”

The day before O’Brien of Mercer Crescent, Helmshore, had been convicted in his absence of making homophobic remarks to a police communications operator last November.

He was fined £250 with £250 costs and the judge said his comments had been: “Appalling and totally unacceptable.”

Prosecutor Josephine Scally said O’Brien became abusive after claiming he had been the victim of a late night assault in the city.

During the conversation he called the operator “daft” and a “homosexual.”

On being arrested he told a police sergeant that he had only been “speaking my mind”.

Mrs Scally said the remarks had caused the operator distress and a great deal of embarrassment.

O’Brien had denied using threatening and abusive behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm and distress.

Asked why he had not turned up at court he claimed that his holiday flight from New York had been delayed.

He pleaded not guilty to failing to surrender to his bail and the case was adjourned for trial next month.