A student who kicked a Police car and swore at officers was given a conditional discharge after Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said a criminal record could scupper his US college career.

Demir Armstrong, 21, admitted verbally lashing out at everyone who came into contact with him — including his girlfriend, father and Police — when he was drunk in the early hours of April 20.

Armstrong's spat with his father was so severe the Police had to be called, and he continued acting aggressively when officers arrived at the scene, Magistrates' Court was told yesterday.

However, Mr. Warner accepted Armstrong's suggestion that he was sorry for his actions and discharged him on the condition he write a letter of apology to the Police Commissioner, pay $160 for damage to the car and voluntarily abstain from drinking alcohol.

Senior Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney said Armstrong had caused the Police car's door to malfunction after kicking it.

Armstrong, of Band Room Lane, Devonshire, told the court: "I would just like to apologise. I went off for a night of drinking.

"Pops came into the argument, it got physical after that. The Police had to come. I was just upset that night. The liquor had a huge effect on me.

"I wasn't even in a hostile state until me and my girl started arguing. I was downstairs, talking to my girl, arguing back and forth. I took my anger at her and directed it at him (his father)."

When Mr. Warner quoted a Bible reference about honouring thy mother and father, Armstrong replied: "I had never heard it before but I could probably depict its origin."

After Armstrong said he was a student at a college in New York, Mr. Warner replied: "Your problem is, you have a conviction you might not be able to go back."

The defendant continued: "It wasn't in my character. That event is unlikely to happen in the next year, the next two years.

"Everyone who was coming into contact with me was getting it from me. I was pointedly upset. I won't drink any more. I cut it out."

Armstrong pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening manner, using offensive words and damaging property.

After reading out the conditions of his 12-month discharge, Mr. Warner added: "You have done foolishness. This is an opportunity to make right."