POLICE had to use CS spray to subdue a Bury man during a disturbance outside a public house in Heywood, a court heard.

Paul Anthony Derbyshire, a 30-year-old skip hire operative, of Hawes Close, Bury, admitting at Rochdale Magistrates' Court language and behaviour likely to cause provocation of violence during an incident in Heywood town centre.

The magistrates were told Derbyshire had a significant previous conviction in 2000 for violent disorder, which had resulted in a two-year term of imprisonment.

Miss Nichola Docker, prosecuting, said police officers had gone to a disturbance late at night outside a bar in Market Street, Heywood, where several males had been refused entry. These men were being abusive to the door staff and to passers-by.

The police officers warned the men about their conduct. One man approached the police and threatened to fight and was arrested. At that point Derbyshire intervened shouting "Let him go, you nob heads, I'll take you on one by one".

Despite warnings, Derbyshire continued to be threatening and abusive. He eventually had to be restrained by the use of CS gas "due to his demeanour," said Miss Docker. He continued to be abusive after his arrest and spent a number of hours in a cell at Middleton Police Station.

On his behalf, Mr Des Richmond said: "He sincerely regrets this incident and is embarrassed with himself. But there is a sense the policed officers were over-zealous because the use of the gas has left him with discoloration and scarring to his neck which might be long-term."

Derbyshire was fined £110 and ordered him to pay £55 court costs.

Derbyshire had come out of prison in 2001 and he had found him to be an impressive individual in facing up to problems. The father-of-one had made a new start after coming out of prison and had "kept his nose clean".