were subjected to a verbal assault.

But the man, Randy Thompson, defended his actions and accused the officers of being "bad and abrupt'' with him.

Thompson, 39, of Scotts Hill Road, Somerset, appeared in Magistrates' Court, accused of using offensive words.

Sgt. Early Kirby, prosecuting, said that Thompson had been spotted by the officers in a bus stop on East Broadway on Sunday, September 13.

"He had his head in his hands and appeared to be asleep. The officers approached him and he told them to `leave me the f... alone' and then repeated the statement. He was arrested.'' Pleading guilty, Thompson said: "I was trying to get home, I was late and I was tired.

"They irritated me. Their approach was very bad, very abrupt. They thought I was a vagrant or something.'' Senior Magistrate, the Wor. Will Francis defended the Police action and said to Thompson that he could have been ill, and the Police could have helped him.

But the defendant replied: "I cannot digest that. They came up like they wanted to shake me down. I was just trying to get home, but I had to spend the night in a cell.'' Mr. Francis fined him $75.