A NEWPORT man about to be let free by the police following an altercation with two other men, instead decided to direct drunken insults at the officers, an Isle of Wight court was told.

Unemployed Harry Rae White, of Atkinson Drive, was handed a six-month conditional discharge after he admitted being drunk and disorderly in Newport High Street on the evening of April 12.

Police officers were called to the junction of Sea Street and the Quay in Newport, amid reports of an incident, in which White had allegedly attacked two other men.

He was arrested — initially on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. But he was not charged and the officers prepared to let him go.

When they tried to get confirmation of his address, White became very abusive and insulted them and was arrested again, said Ann Smout, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court.

White last appeared before Island magistrates for causing criminal damage on December 26.

White, representing himself, said: "Had a blow out after I broke up with my girlfriend, who has moved to Southampton, so I found that a bit hard.

"I don't really remember anything."

Magistrates ordered White to pay £35 costs and a £22 victim surcharge.

When sentencing White, presiding magistrate Gordon Cooper said: "I don't need to read you the riot act because you know it was not the right thing to do. A young lad like you does not need to have a criminal record.

"If you had just walked away quietly you would not be here before us. It was an expensive evening out all round."